Page 1 of Sex and Suspicion (Bay Harbor Wolves #9)

“T he patrols have been doubled, and I have two teams guarding the beach," Zayn reported to Alpha Henrik. "And Derek and Leo have completed their relocation to the cliffs.” He finished with a knowing grin. “Those people on the cliffs have no idea what’s about to hit them.”

"If there is trouble on the cliffs, he will root it out and take care of it," Henrik commented, confident in his brother's skills.

“The beach is also a concern. It continues to be a weak spot in our security.

" Zayn explained the number of supposed tourists that had been caught on pack lands over the past two weeks.

"It's summer, and the area, although pack lands and private property, is also a beach and connects to public lands. We need to come up with a way to deter the people from venturing beyond the rocks.” The rocks and the grass line define the border, but the city saw portions of that beachfront as community and public property. It was an ongoing battle.

"We don't own the water or the land under the water, unfortunately. I love the Bay, but keeping a secure border isn't easy when there is a beach and a bay involved." Henrik rubbed his chin and glanced out his office window at the Bay in question. "But it is damn beautiful to look at." He smiled.

“The patrols will influence people to stay back or move on. Most people don’t like the presence of men in suits looking official walking the beach. It makes them nervous.”

“Security getting used to the suits?” Henrik laughed.

"They understand the necessity of the look, and they're getting used to it, but they have to work on shifting. The suit trips them up, but it is getting better.” Zayn laughed.

"As we grow and expand our influence, the suit will start to define us in many arenas, so we all will have to get used to the look and learn to function swiftly within the new constraints.” Henrik reminded.

"I'm not looking forward to wearing one on the regular, but changing times and all." Zayn nodded his understanding.

"I plan to elevate this pack and expand our lands, and dressing correctly is all part of the package of influence." Henrik drove it home, making his plans clear.

"No one is complaining, Henrik. Most appreciate the power that comes with an expensive suit. Everything is a tool in this game, even wardrobe." Zayn nodded his head.

“Speaking of tools, I have a meeting next week with Sensor Properties, the company handling the property sale next door, and I plan to bring Derek with me," Henrik smirked. "Derek doesn't have to wear a suit to be intimidating. The man just needs to appear."

“Derek has a way about him that speaks death with every step and every glance. The meeting should be interesting.” Zayn laughed.

"It will definitely be interesting." Henrik wanted to impress the people selling that land with an understanding of who the Bay Harbor Group was and what they were willing to do to secure that property.

The land was two hundred acres vacant and wooded that butted up to the eastern border of the pack lands, and Henrik wanted it.

Derek was going to be there to strictly frighten people.

Hayes Castian was a security guard with the Bay Harbor Wolves. He'd grown up in the Pack and had been trained from an early age to join the guards. He'd served under the Beta Zayn for many years, working on special projects and doing his share of ground patrols.

The ground patrols were constant and required a good number of soldiers and guards, so everyone did their rotations.

Hayes was scheduled to cover the beachfront for the next two months along with Travis Cane.

He and Travis had worked together before, both as guards and in the field.

They were friends and worked well together.

They were to start at ten this evening and end at ten in the morning.

Each pair would have twelve-hour shifts for the next five days.

Hayes liked working nights. He preferred the quiet and the stillness of the night, and working the beach would provide an added peace.

It was a beautiful area, especially at night.

Hayes was meeting Travis in the dining hall located not far from the pack house.

They provided meals for soldiers, guards, and anyone in the Pack who needed or wanted a meal at any time of the day.

The hall was always open. Alpha Henrik provided his people with homes, land, jobs, food, protection, support, and anything the Pack needed to thrive, Alpha Henrik gave.

Hayes was honored to be a guard and a soldier serving his Alpha and his Pack.

“I hear that the Alpha is looking at buying the property to the east of us. Two hundred acres of wild country.” Travis commented while they ate their dinner.

“I also heard that he plans to bring Derek with him to negotiations.” That had Hayes looking up from his roast beef with a surprised expression.

“He’s taking Derek to a business meeting to help with negotiations?” Hayes asked with a heavy dose of skepticism. “He’s more likely to scare the living hell out of them.”

"I think that's Alpha Henrik's intent," Travis responded with a grin. “He brings Derek along when he wants to make an impression without having to say a word.”

"All I can say is that I'm glad that guy is on our side," Hayes stated, and Travis agreed. Derek was hard and cold, but he loved three things, his mate, his brother, and his Pack. Derek’s loyalty was solid, and without end, he was the type of person every leader hoped to have at their side.

Alpha Henrik was fortunate to have his brother and a trusted group of men that surrounded him who were without reproach.

They were all men that would gladly lay down their lives for him.

His brother, his second, and his team of enforcers helped to make this pack the success that it is.

The soldiers and guards took the same oath and served him with the same level of dedication and loyalty.

The Bay Harbor Wolf Pack was led and protected by the best in the shifter world as far as Hayes was concerned.

There were and had been issues in the membership, but they were being dealt with, and according to Travis, who heard all the gossip, a new system for membership was being drawn up by none other than Derek Vaughn.

“Derek and his mate have relocated to the cliffs, and I hear he’s shaking up the place.” Travis continued with local gossip.

"The last undesirables that were taken out had lived on the cliffs, and apparently, they’re worried that a bad element may be taking root up there," Hayes added his two cents worth.

“Derek will finish any remaining bad element.”

“No doubt.”

Jake Kolly had dinner with his brother Aidan and then excused himself to go to his room.

Jake had lived with his brother ever since he’d moved to Eastport four months ago.

They moved from Detroit, where their parents still reside.

Aidan had a job offer with Sensor Properties and asked Jake to come with him.

He had just graduated and was working a couple lame jobs, so he was more than excited about moving.

Unfortunately, he’s ended up working a couple of lame jobs in Eastport, so life had not exactly improved that much yet, but he had hope.

What did improve was his photography. Eastport was on the Bay, and it was also adjacent to acres of beautiful wilderness.

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 always lights 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.