Ray of Sunshine

by Becca Van

  

  Alpha Province: Ray of Sunshine

  Jaimie Whitten is running scared, but she has no idea where or who the danger is coming from. After receiving threatening notes on her car and in her apartment she leaves her hometown of Natchez, Louisiana.

  Beckett, Daire, and Crispin Rafferty, tiger shifters, know Jaimie is their mate as soon as they see and scent her. Elated and worried for the woman after she’s injured saving a little girl’s life, they are determined to take care of her and woo her.

  When they find out she’s in danger, they vow to protect her with their lives. However, that’s easier said than done. How are they supposed to keep their mate safe when no one knows whose gunning for her?

  The three brothers think they won’t have a chance to be with their mate when she inadvertently sees some of the shifters change from Kodiak bears to men.

  When the threat follows Jaimie to Ambrose, North Dakota, Jaimie faces her own mortality as she and her nemesis come face to face.

  Genres: Contemporary, Fantasy, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Shape-shifter

  Length: 53,005

  ALPHA PROVINCE:

  RAY OF SUNSHINE

  Becca Van

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  Alpha Province: Ray of Sunshine

  Copyright © 2018 by Becca Van

  ISBN: 978-1-64243-331-9

  First Publication: July 2018

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All art and logo copyright © 2018 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

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  DEDICATION

  From me to all of you. Thank you so much for following me and reading my stories. If it wasn’t for you, my readers, I wouldn’t be able to fulfill my passion for writing.

  Love, Becca xxoo

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  My name is Becca Van. I live in Australia with my wonderful hubby of many years, as well as my two children.

  I read my first romance, which I found in the school library, at the age of thirteen and haven’t stopped reading them since. It is so wonderful to know that love is still alive and strong when there seems to be so much conflict in the world.

  I dreamed of writing my own book one day but, unfortunately, didn’t follow my dream for many years. But once I started I knew writing was what I wanted to continue doing.

  I love to escape from the world and curl up with a good romance, to see how the characters unfold and conflict is dealt with. I have read many books and love all facets of the romance genre, from historical to erotic romance. I am a sucker for a happy ending.

  For all titles by Becca Van, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/becca-van

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  ALPHA PROVINCE:

  RAY OF SUNSHINE

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Epilogue

  ALPHA PROVINCE:

  RAY OF SUNSHINE

  BECCA VAN

  Copyright © 2018

  Prologue

  Jaimie Whitten stared at the letter she opened as soon as she’d entered her apartment. She had no idea who was trying to scare her or threaten her, but whoever it was had succeeded. She didn’t realize she was shaking until she realized she could no longer read the typed words on the page.

  Her heart was pounding hard and fast against her sternum and she had sweat in her pits, between her breasts as well as sheening the rest of her body. She dropped the letter on the counter, immediately reaching for her cell phone and called the police. She wasn’t sure they would, or could do anything, but she needed to report it.

  Hours later, she sat huddled in the corner of her living room sofa with her legs tucked up close to her body and her arms wrapped around her knees. She was too scared to go to bed and try to sleep. Every little creak and sound had her jumping with fear.

  This hadn’t been the first letter she’d received, and she knew it wouldn’t be the last.

  The letters had started coming six months ago. At first, they’d been irregular, but they had gotten more and more violent, and now she was getting at least one a week.

  She was so tired and knew she couldn’t keep this up much longer.

  Other people’s lives depended on her being rested and alert.

  Jaimie must have fallen asleep in the early hours of the morning and while she was grateful for the little amount of shuteye she’d gotten, she needed much more.

  She shoved to her feet, heading toward her bathroom so she could get ready for work.

  * * * *

  Jaimie walked quickly across the parking lot toward the entrance of the Promise Hospital of Miss Lou in Natchez, Louisiana.

  She was running later than usual and only had a few minutes before her shift started. She was mentally lamenting the fact she wouldn’t have time to have another relaxing cup of coffee before she began work, when she heard the squeal of tires behind her.

  She turned just in time to see a truck barreling straight toward her. Jaimie knew it was too late, but she tried to get away from the vehicle as she raced across the asphalt.

  Pain exploded into her hip as the front quarter panel hit her and sent her flying. She flew through the air before landing hard on the ground, her head smacking on the hard tarmac.

  She was in so much agony she couldn’t even scream. All that came out of her mouth was a groan.

  As the darkness began to suck her in, she wondered if she was going to die.

  All those dreams she had of meeting a wonderful man, of falling in love and having babies with him would never be realized because of a crazy man.

  Her last thought before she was dragged down into the dark, beckoning world was whether the police would catch the asshole who’d hit her and sped away.

  And then she knew nothing.

  Chapter One

  Jaimie limped away from the bus, dragging her small suitcase behind her. She wished she’d known that this town was the end of the line before she’d gotten on the bus because she probably would have taken another route if she had. Now she had to find somewhere to stay until the transport came back a week later.

  She was tired, hungry, and scared, but at least she was alive.

  She kept her gaze lowered as she walked down Main Street toward the shops and hoped that her luck would change. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept in a warm and comfortable bed. Even though she had money, she didn’t have much left and had to be
frugal, so she had taken to sleeping in bus terminals and even on a park bench or two. Luckily, she’d been able to shower in the public restrooms between bus hopping, but right now she would almost kill for a long, hot shower, a hot meal, and a warm bed.

  Jaimie pushed her thoughts aside and smiled when she saw a family walking down the street in her direction. The mom and dad turned to look at something in the window of the general surplus store.

  One of the little girls pushed her way in between her parents to see what they were looking at. Her sister was too busy bouncing a ball up and down on the sidewalk to take any notice of what the rest of her family was doing.

  Jaimie was almost upon them when the ball hit a stone or something, which sent it bouncing toward the road. She sucked in a breath when the girl spun around and took off after it out into the street.

  Jaimie dropped the handle of her case and chased after her. She didn’t bother to look at the vehicle rumbling toward them but kept her gaze on the little girl. Just as she was within reach, she knew she only had seconds to react. As she shoved the girl to the other side of the road, she heard the screech of tires on the road. While she kept moving, she wasn’t as fast as she used to be after the last time she’d been hit by a car. She put her hand out as she stumbled when her weak left hip cramped before giving way. Her hand slammed into the hard road then her knees thudded into the ground. Air exploded from her lungs as her wrist snapped, sending searing agony up her arm just before she fell to her side. Even though she had no idea if the truck was still aiming for her, she couldn’t move. She was in so much pain that all she could do was whimper as she curled into a ball, cradling her broken wrist against her chest.

  “Fuck! Are you all right?”

  Jaimie kept her eyes closed and shook her head. Tears welled, but she kept them from falling down her cheeks with ruthless determination.

  “Move aside. Let me through,” a deep male voice ordered.

  “Thank you. Oh my god. Thank you so much. You just saved my daughter's life,” a woman sobbed.

  Jaimie just nodded, her eyes still closed as she tried to breathe through the pain.

  “Can you open your eyes for me?”

  Jaimie shook her head again before changing it to a nod. She sucked in a breath, preparing for another onslaught of pain before forcing her lids up.

  “I’m Dr. Broden Higgins,” the man kneeling at her side said. “Can you tell me your name?”

  “Jaimie,” she whispered hoarsely.

  Doc Higgins shone a light into first one eye and then the other. When he was satisfied she didn’t have a concussion, he dropped the penlight before meeting her gaze again. “Can you tell me where you’re hurting, Jaimie?”

  “My wrist. It’s b-broken. I-I heard and felt it snap.” Jaimie glanced about at all the worried faces peering down at her. If she hadn’t been hurting so much she would have blushed with embarrassment.

  “Anywhere else?” Dr. Higgins asked.

  “My left hip.”

  “Archer, Airen get a stretcher.”

  “I think I can walk,” Jaimie said and tensed as she prepared to sit up.

  “No, stay right where you are.”

  “I’ll make sure she doesn’t move, Doc.”

  Jaimie gazed at the man who’d spoken and was kneeling above her head. Her breath hitched when she realized there were two other men kneeling on either side of him. They were all frowning with concern, but she was sure she saw flashes of heat in their gazes as she met each of their eyes.

  “I’m Beckett Rafferty,” the man who’d previously spoken and was in the middle of the trio said. “These are my brothers, Crispin and Daire.”

  Jaimie nodded just before she closed her eyes again. They were very handsome, muscular men and she would have continued to admire them if she hadn’t been in so much pain. She was hot and cold at the same time and shivering so hard her teeth were chattering.

  “I’m going to make sure you haven’t broken anything else. Okay, Jaimie?” Doc Higgins asked.

  She licked her dry lips and nodded again, then held still while the doctor ran his hands over her body impersonally. When he got to her left hip, she couldn’t help flinching and groaning. Jaimie just hoped she hadn’t done any more damage. It had been twelve months since she’d been struck by a vehicle and broken that hip and while it had mostly healed, the treating orthopedic surgeon had told her it would never be the same. Now, here she was lying on the road after being hit again. However, at least this time it had only been a gentle nudge and most of her was still intact. She’d likely have a bruise on her hip and the broken bone had nothing to do with being tapped. That had been all her own doing. She shouldn’t have put her hand out but it had been instinctual. If she’d taken the brunt of her fall on her shoulder, she’d likely just have a few contusions. Nevertheless, it hadn’t been the driver’s fault this time. She’d ran out in front of him, but she couldn’t just stand by and watch that little girl get hurt or maybe even killed.

  Jaimie was beginning to wonder if the universe had something against her.

  “We need to get her on the stretcher. I want her hip and wrist x-rayed.”

  “We can lift her,” Beckett said.

  At the moment, Jaimie didn’t care who lifted her. She just wanted to get out of the street and hidden away behind closed doors. For such a tiny town, she’d managed to draw quite a crowd.

  The last thing she wanted to do was draw attention to herself.

  “On the count of three,” Beckett murmured.

  Jaimie held her breath and tried to keep her muscles lax but it was instinctive for her to tense up when she felt strange hands on her body.

  “Three, two, one.”

  She braced herself for the pain as Beckett and his brothers lifted her from the road before gently placing her on the portable stretcher. For such big men, they were surprisingly gentle with her. While she was hurting a lot, they’d somehow managed not to exacerbate her agony by jolting her in any way.

  Jaimie felt the stretcher being lifted and then she was being carried from the street. She just hoped someone found her suitcase and brought it with them.

  * * * *

  Beckett paced back and forth in the clinic waiting room, rubbing at the back of his neck. He’d never forget the moment that little girl had run out into the road after her ball without looking. Nor would he forget the bravery of the woman who’d likely saved the child’s life. He hated that he’d nudged her with his truck, but he didn’t think he was the cause of her broken wrist. Hopefully, he hadn’t hit her hard enough to break her pelvis. He felt so fucking guilty even though he knew it wasn’t his fault.

  “I can’t believe—” Daire cut himself off as he slammed his fist against the frame of the door.

  Beckett nodded as he clenched his teeth. If he hadn’t stood so hard on the brakes and swerved his truck, he would have ended up hitting Jaimie harder. Maybe even killed her. If that had happened, he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself. As soon as he’d brought the truck to a stop, he and his brothers had jumped out and run toward the woman lying in the road.

  When he’d smelled her enticingly delectable scent, his knees had buckled and his tiger had been roaring as he tried to take control.

  Jaimie was his and his brothers’ mate and she was hurt.

  She’d been in with Broden, Airen, and Archer for what felt like hours. He and his tiger were impatient to see her, and it was getting harder and harder to keep his inner beast back. However, he wasn’t about to let his animal get the better of him because he’d end up scaring their mate even more.

  He’d smelled the sweet, acrid stench of her fear and pain when she’d been surrounded by people and hoped that she wasn’t scared of him and his brothers, but Beckett had a feeling their mate was frightened of all men.

  If she’d have been able to get up and walk away, she would have been long gone.

  Beckett scented Dusty before the door to the exam room opened. He turned to face the doo
r just as the doorknob turned. He was glad that Jaimie had another woman in the exam room with her and hoped that having a member of the same sex by her side was enough to allay his mate’s fears.

  “How is she?” Crispin asked as he hurried forward.

  Beckett and Daire moved up to stand at his side.

  “I can’t talk to you without Jaimie’s consent.” Dusty frowned at them as she crossed her arms over her chest. “If you want to know, you’ll have to ask her.”

  “You aren’t a doctor,” Daire snarled. “You aren’t—”

  “Don’t you dare fucking snarl at my mate,” Archer growled in a low voice after he came to stand behind Dusty.

  Beckett glared at Daire before turning his gaze back to Dusty and Archer, but before he could apologize for his brother, Daire stepped up.

  “I’m sorry, Dusty. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful by taking my frustration out on you.”

  “I forgive you.” Dusty smiled at Daire. “Why are you all so worried about Jaimie? From what I’ve heard, only gave her a gentle nudge. I don’t think any of you are the reason she’s hurting.”

  Crispin shook his head. “Thank fuck Beckett reacted so quickly. If he hadn’t…”

  Beckett couldn’t stop reliving that horrible moment in his mind over and over again. He didn’t even notice his claws were protruding from the tips of his fingers until Crispin clasped his shoulder.

  “She’s our mate,” Beckett finally managed to answer Dusty’s question. The other woman’s eyes rounded with shock and her mouth formed a perfect O before she closed her mouth and grinned at him and his brothers.

  “I’m so happy for you.”

  Beckett nodded his thanks, and while he was excited to have finally met the one woman in the world meant to be his and his brothers’ significant other half, he was also scared. Although he and his brothers were getting better at interacting and talking with the opposite sex, that had only started recently.