Page 2 of Sex and Suspicion

Jake was a photographer, and sunsets were his current obsession. The Bay was perfect. He loved the color, mood, and atmosphere he could get there. The best location was the beach adjacent to that gated community just outside of town. He’d been out there a couple times and got some great shots, but the weather tonight should prove to be ideal for some wonderful color.

“Are you heading out?” Aidan asked. He was relaxing in the living room of their apartment, watching something on television.

“Yeah, I’ll probably be late. I want to do a series and include some of the moon, which is supposed to be full tonight." Jake couldn't hide his excitement, and his brother chuckled.

“Just be careful. I hear the security at that place can get rough with people." Aidan knew where he was headed and did not trust that gated community on the Bay.

"The beach is public property. I have every right to be there."

"Assholes are assholes for a reason. It's a character flaw, and they usually don't give a rat's ass about your rights." Aidan was the pragmatic one, and his assessments were usually correct. But Jake was willing to risk upsetting the security of the Bay Harbor Community to get the shots he wanted. He was building a portfolio in hopes of making his love of photography into a viable business, so he needed these shots.

“The weather is perfect tonight, and the cloud cover is just right. I have to get these pictures.” Jake slipped his backpack over his shoulder and opened the door. He glanced back at his brother before leaving. “I’ll be okay.”

“If you have any problems, call me. I don't know what I'll do, but I will do something." He smiled.

"Thanks." With that, Jake took off, eager to get to his preferred location before dusk.

He drove to the boat launch, which provided a large area of free parking. It was a half mile from the border of the Bay Harbor property. Jake had entered the beach in front of the lodge or hotel or whatever they called it. There were alwayslights on and activity of some sort, so Jake had assumed it was a public house of some sort.

He'd been to the location on two other occasions and had gotten some breathtaking shots. The sky was perfect this evening, and the moon was to be full, so tonight's work was going to be fantastic. He just knew it. So far, he'd managed to avoid the security people by keeping close to the water and not moving too far into Bay Harbor property.

The Bay Harbor community was gated, extremely secretive, and quite large. Jake had tried to find out information about it, but there was little to gather apart from the property specs and the charter that was established years ago. It was a place that was not based on income or influence, but they were very selective when it came to new residents. Jake had no idea what the rules of inclusion entailed, and it piqued his curiosity.

Aidan said Bay Harbor was a cult, and new recruits had to be indoctrinated into their crazy religion, but he also said that the community owned and operated the Indigo Hotel. That hotel was exclusive and catered to the elite of this area and the state. It was not the type of place a religious cult would be operating. People around town didn't really talk about them and clammed up when questioned, which just made the mystery more enticing.

Jake found his spot and quietly set up his equipment in anticipation of a perfect sunset. Glancing around, he noticed a couple of men in suits standing off to his left, further down the beach. They were watching him, but they didn't approach him. Jake tried to ignore them and focused on his work.

CHAPTER TWO

"It's the same guy that was here last Saturday and again on Monday," Travis commented as he stood next to Hayes. “Just a local kid taking pictures of the sunset, it would seem."

“I don’t like how close he gets to the pack house. Every time he comes, he sets up just a little closer." Hayes didn't have a lot of trust where the humans were concerned. Others had tried over the years to trespass on pack lands, and some had succeeded and done damage.

“I think he’s harmless.” Travis declared with a tired sigh. “I’m going to do a circle around the front and along the hedge line."

“I’m going to watch the photographer. He gets any nearer the grass line on the beach, and I'm going to run him off." Hayes never took his eyes off the intruder. Travis laughed.

“Radio me if you need help.” He smiled.

“I think I can handle the little human on my own.” Hayes gave him the side eye. "The camera could be a cover, you know, just a way to look innocent.” Travis continued to laugh as he walked away.

Hayes had a strange feeling about this human, and he wasn't going to let him out of his sight. If he had nefarious intent, then Hayes was going to be close by to put a stop to it.

The humans usually leaned into property damage, such as tearing up the beach or destroying the landscaping. One bastard even set fire to the garden at the edge of the backyard. There was no telling what this man might have in mind. He was getting an odd feeling while watching the man. It wasn’t exactly a bad feeling, but it was concerning.

He kept his eyes on him, watching him handle his cameras and equipment. The man appeared focused on what he was doing, but that was easy to fake. When he took several steps back, coming ever closer to the grass line that stood as the hard border on the beach, Hayes moved toward him, slowly decreasing the distance between them. Hayes was ready to act if this man tried anything.

Travis was right in that the man did not give off the air of someone intending harm, but neither he nor Travis were mind readers, so anything was possible. The fact that he came at night and gave the impression of an innocent photographer as he moved ever closer to the pack lands was enough for Hayes to suspect him.

Hayes was focused so completely on the movements of the man with the camera that he failed to notice the figure rushing down from the backyard of the pack house. The dark figure cleared the small rock cliff and landed on the grass, and that's when Hayes saw what was about to take place.

The figure transformed into a wolf as it flew through the air toward the man on the beach. Hayes began running and tearing off his suit as he shifted and leaped at the young wolf that had taken the man to the ground. There were shouts and bloodin the air. The man was bleeding profusely, and the young wolf continued to try and tear at him with his claws.

Hayes pulled the wolf up and away from the injured human. He held him and shifted back to his human form, although the young wolf did not. "Shift!" Hayes demanded, but the wolf cowered and refused. Travis came rushing to the area, and Hayes tossed the young wolf at him.

“Hold him. He attacked the human on the beach without cause.” Hayes turned to the human who was lying motionless and quickly scooped him up into his arms and ran for the pack house. There was a doctor residing there, and he was hoping that he was not too late. The wound on the man’s neck was serious.

He was light, and his body slender in his arms. There was not much to him. He was not capable of withstanding a wolf attack, and he should never have been targeted in such a way. Hurting a human is always a last resort and is never done on a whim.

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