Page 3 of Sex and Suspicion

Hayes crossed the deck and entered through the glass doors that led to the kitchen. It was the quickest way into the heart of the house. He shouted for help, and Seamus appeared from out of the study.

“What is it, Hayes?" He asked as he rushed up to meet him.

“Human was attacked on the beach by a wolf.” Hayes felt the blood on his hands and scented the aroma enveloping him, and the ramifications were heartbreaking. He held himself back and cut off his emotions in order to serve this man and get him the help he needed. There was no time for his feelings to come to the surface. His time would come later.

“Follow me.” Seamus made a call as he led him to a sterile room on the basement level. They were met there by the Doctorand one of his nurses. The Doctor was a wolf, but he was trained in human physiology as well, considering there were several humans in the Pack now. Hayes was thankful for that stroke of luck. He held the man close, clutching him desperately to his chest.

“Lay him on the table." The Doctor instructed, but Hayes hesitated for just a moment. Seamus gave him a knowing look and nodded.

"It's okay, Hayes. The Doctor will help him.” Hayes pulled out of his strange fog, gently placed the man on the table, and reluctantly stepped back. His eyes held the man, and his wolf began to push back to the surface, not in an aggressive fashion but simply curious and wanting to see and get close to this man.

Seamus tossed Hayes some sweats, and he pulled them on. The suit hadn't faired well during his shift, leaving most of it in shreds on the beach. He managed to get the jacket and tie off before his wolf took over and shifted in order to save their mate. Yes, the small man, unconscious and bleeding, was his mate.

Everything had been a blur, and Hayes wasn't sure when it was that he suspected their connection, but once that blood was in the air, there was no doubt who this man was. Hayes was inundated with a wave of emotions that scrambled his control and his mind in general.

In order to maintain a modicum of control, he focused on the man on the table and his immediate welfare. He blocked the surge of instant reactions that came to the forefront, desperately holding himself back and holding himself still in the face of all this chaos. His mate would be best served by a cool head.

The man on the table stared at him with scared eyes that called out to him. Hayes wanted to calm and soothe his fears, butall he could do was hold him with his gaze and channel peace and quietness.

Hayes could hear the beat of the man's heart pounding out, the anxious terror still evident in his expression. The Doctor worked effectively, and the man did not resist. His lack of response was concerning, and Hayes was compelled to speak.

"What's your name, sweetheart?" Hayes said the first thing that came to mind. The man blinked, and his lips parted, but nothing was said for several seconds. He just stared and folded in on himself. "Tell me your name," Hayes said in a tone that was both soft and persuasive.

“Jake.” The word was spoken so quietly that if he wasn’t a wolf, he would not have heard it.

"Hayes." He said and placed a hand on his chest, indicating that was his name. Jaked blinked, and his hand moved as if he was reaching for him, and that was all Hayes could take. He didn't care about anything at that point except getting to his injured and despondent mate. The moment he had spoken, all things fell into place. His thoughts and feelings became laser-focused on one man, and his name was Jake.

Hayes moved up close to the side of the table, took Jake's hand, and held it secure in his. The touch was electric, sending jolts of awareness and understanding through him. Jake was experiencing something as well, but Hayes was not sure what. Jake looked at their joined hands and kept blinking and then looked up at Hayes.

“Thanks for saving me from that monster.” He said with a little more strength. Hayes’ presence was clearly influencing his feelings and giving him strength.

Hayes nodded and responded. “You’re welcome.” The smile that came to his face was genuine and heartfelt, and it wasall for this young man. A human, he would have never thought that Fate would bless him with a young human so fragile and beautiful. He knew there was something special about him the moment he laid eyes on him, even from such a distance.

Never did he think that while he was there watching, observing, and waiting for trouble, the man he was scrutinizing was his mate. The sense of familiarity that he felt he dismissed as having met or seen the man before in some other context. The Doctor looked over at him speculatively and then stepped back from the table before giving Hayes Jake’s status.

“He has minor abrasions on his arms and a deep one-inch laceration to his neck, which I stitched but should heal quickly. Other than that, he is suffering from basic panic and distress over the event that landed him here in my care.” The Doctor patted Hayes on the shoulder. "He will be fine; just stay close and keep him calm. There is nothing to worry about, Hayes.”

"Thank you, doctor." Doctor Stevenson had sensed the connection between them, and it appears so did Alpha Henrik. Hayes turned when the door swung open, and Alpha Henrik came into the room. He spoke to the Doctor and then came over to stand beside Hayes.

“Don’t worry, we will work this out. Fate always acts with a purpose, and her destiny is never thwarted." He assured, and Hayes was surprised at how much that statement relaxed him. Suddenly, he felt empowered and ready. The feeling of being scattered and confused was gone. The Doctor had given Jake a sedative, and he gradually fell into a deep sleep.

The Alpha motioned for Hayes to step out into the hall with him. The door was left open so Hayes could keep watch on his mate. “Travis reported that Jimmy Lee shifted and attackedthe young man while he was on the beach taking pictures.” Alpha Henrik was asking for clarification.

“Yes, I don’t know what the catalyst for his rage was. The young man’s name is Jake. I was watching him and feeling a strange sense of familiarity, so I didn't let him get out of my sight. He didn't do anything, no aggressive moves toward the property, and he did not trespass." Hayes shook his head, mystified by why Jimmy would feel the need to attack.

“Travis is holding Jimmy in the stockade, but he's not forthcoming with his reasoning for the attack as yet. We'll get to the bottom of it and, in the meantime, take care of you, mate. I’ve arranged for you to have a room on the second floor. It would be better to keep Jake here until we figure this out and you have a chance to bring him into the Pack." The Alpha was clearly concerned about the cause of the attack, but he was also being supportive of Hayes.

"He saw a lot. Jimmy shifted, and then I shifted. It was quite the free-for-all." Hayes shook his head.

“He’s your mate, he'll understand. He's scared, but he is not scared of you, and that's the important thing." He patted Hayes on the shoulder and then headed out, most likely to meet again with Travis and Jimmy. Hayes went back to stand at Jake’s bedside.

He finally had a moment to really look at his mate to see everything that made him so special. He was young, that was obvious, and his face possessed an innocence that was charming. His hair hung long past his ears and was a lovely reddish blond, and his eyes were an intense and beautiful light brown. His complexion was creamy and soft, just aching to be caressed. Everything about young Jake attracted Hayes and made his blood burn for him.

Hayes threaded his fingers through Jake's hair several times and then scooped him up into his arms and carried him out of the room. Jake was still unconscious, and the Doctor told him that he'd be out for a few hours. It would give him time to get them settled in the bedroom upstairs and give him time to figure out how he was going to explain all of this to his unsuspecting mate.

He was very pleased with his mate. Humans made fantastic partners, but explaining the supernatural was long and arduous. He wished there was an easier way. Jake had witnessed plenty, and hopefully, he remembered everything he saw. Hayes would start there and build on what he already knew, and hopefully, his young mate would keep an open mind.

The bedroom was large and plush, with a big king bed in the middle of the room and an attached bath. It was perfect for their time together. Hayes owned a small bungalow on the edge of town. He liked the privacy it gave him, and it also allowed him to keep watch on the border. His home was only a few feet away from the border, which separated pack lands from state lands. He hoped that Jake liked his home and would be comfortable there.

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