Dana Bell - Finding Forgiveness

To my mom who, like me, suffers from migraines.

To my dad, who gets to suffer through my mother having a migraine. Trust me; its no more fun for the family than it is for the sufferer.

To Dusty, whos helped me figure out what my triggers are and how to avoid them. Yanking the roast beef sandwich out of my hand and eating it yourself was such a sacrifice. I know youre still not over the pain.

And to everyone else out there who, like me, has suffered through what Dave does, you have my sympathy.

Benjamin Malone shivered in the dark, praying no one would find him. If they did, they might help him, and the last thing Ben needed was the Packs form of help. Because if they found him, the first thing theyd do would be to return him to his father.

Benny?

He held still, praying, hoping Steve would just go away. Steven Hoode was his best friend. He knew all about Bens father, knew about the drinking binges, the fights, the emotional blackmail. The fists that left behind bruises no one else could see.

He always wondered why the Alpha didnt do something about his father. He had to know what was going on! Or the Marshall, the Alphas enforcer, the one who felt the physical well-being of the entire Pack; how could the man feel what was going on and not do something? The Omega felt the emotional state of the Pack members; why didnt he make it stop?

But no one helped him. No one cared except a few friends his own age. The entire Pack turned a blind eye to his fathers blows, the drunken rampages. Walter Malone was careful to keep his drinking to himself, hiding it from others, but there was no way in hell he was hiding it from the Pack leaders. Which, to Ben, meant they didnt give a shit about the teenager hiding in the trees.

He thanked God every day that his parents only had one child. He couldnt even imagine what it would have been like if his father had someone younger than him to hurt. Someone weaker. Someone Ben couldnt protect. Hell, up until her death his mother hadnt been able to protect herself. If the cancer hadnt taken her, his father would have. Trying to protect someone when he could barely protect himself would have been a nightmare.

Cmon, Benny. Theyre headed this way.

Shit. If his father found him cowering in the trees like a little girl hed beat the shit out of him again. He might be a drunk, but his father was damn strong and still a lot bigger than Ben. Ben dropped to the ground, close to where he knew Steve was hiding.

Lets go.

Steve. The full-human boy who lived not too far down the mountain, the one he wasnt supposed to be friends with. The one who knew nothing of Packs and Alphas and men who turned into Wolves. If the Alpha found out hed let a human onto Pack lands his father would be the least of his worries. The Alpha might even go so far as to Outcast him, turn him out into the world without his Pack.

Hed rather suffer the beatings than that. To be Outcast was the worst form of punishment, forever cut off from the voice of the Alpha, the warmth of the Pack. Forever alone. Hed be a target for anyone from the shifter world who wanted a toy to play with or something to beat on just for the hell of it.

At least here he had hope that someday, when a new Alpha took over the Pack, hed be safe.

Ben grabbed Steves hand and started running. Ben was even more terrified now that Steve was here. The Alpha could do serious damage to both of them if he caught them, and if he did catch them Steve probably wouldnt survive. The Alpha firmly believed that humans and shifters should remain separated at all times no matter the circumstances. Anyone caught infringing on his rule would suffer the consequences. Theyd probably never even find Steves body.

If Rick were here hed help Ben hide the boy. Rick didnt share his grandfathers views on Pack life, but Rick wasnt here. He was housebound, grounded for a week for trying to stand up to his grandfather. Ben had been proud of him. Someday, that scary redhead was going to challenge the Alpha, and Ben had every intention of standing right at his side when he did.

Ben?

Ben froze. Oh God. Oh no. He recognized that voice. He couldnt be here if the Alpha caught them. Ben couldnt protect him. Go away, Dave!

Dave Maldonado, fifteen years old and tempting as sin, stepped out from behind a bush. His light brown hair glittered in the moonlight like it was dusted with gold. His startling amber eyes were wide. He stared at the hand Ben had clamped around Steves, his own hands clenching. When the boy grew into those hands he was going to be huge. Whats going on?

Ben didnt want to drag Dave into this. The kid wasnt ready to face Bens dad, let alone the Alpha. Go away. He tightened his grip on Steves hand, ignoring the way his gut clenched at the thought of someone hurting Dave.

Daves gaze rose to his, the pain in them worrying Ben. Where are you going?

Far away from here, Steve muttered. He looked behind him. Can we chat later, ladies?

Ben jerked. He could hear the pursuit behind them, knew they had seconds before the others caught wind of them. Gotta run. Listen, dont tell anyone you saw us, okay?

But

Dave! Ben took a deep breath. Dont tell anyone.

Dave nodded and rubbed at his forehead. Yeah. Sure. No problem.

And Ben took off, dragging his best friend behind him and leaving behind the boy he knew would someday be his mate.

Mmm. Thats so good. Dont stop, baby. Please dont ever stop.

Dave reached down and dug his fingers into the short, ebony strands. Wet heat surrounded his cock, damn near swallowing him whole. He resisted the urge to thrust up into the warm, willing mouth wrapped around him. He didnt want to be too rough, was afraid he might cause damage to the man currently sucking him down.

He would never hurt his mate.

Strong fingers reached around and toyed with Daves balls, his mates nearly black eyes dancing wickedly. Dave thought hed died and gone to heaven. He groaned, the tingle in his balls stronger now. He was close. So fucking close he could taste it. Tingling sparks of pure pleasure raced down his spine.

Gonna. That was all he could get out, his brain having short-circuited the minute that wet mouth hit his prick.

His mate nodded, his tongue stroking the head of Daves cock. He sucked on Daves cock like it was the last piece of man candy in the world and he was determined to get a piece.

Dave exploded into his mates mouth, the pleasure so intense he damn near blacked out. His whole body clenched as wave after wave of pure delight streamed from him into Ben Malone.

RING.

Dave stroked the dark fall of hair away from deep, almost black eyes and smiled. His mates lips parted, glistening, plump from the suction hed had on Daves cock.

RING.

He frowned. What the fuck?

Bens brows rose, and his mouth opened once more. Inside, his tongue had become a cell phone.

RING.

Dave bolted upright, his sheets sticky, his body still heaving from the best orgasm he could ever remember having. He picked up his cell phone, took one look at the caller ID and threw it across the room. Whatever it was, Rick could wait. Dave was battling the mother of all headaches and wasnt in the mood for much more than sleep.

Fuck it. Hed rather dream than live in reality anyway.

In dreams, he got to have his mate. He didnt have to see the scorn in Bens eyes or hear the disgust in his voice when he spoke to Dave. Why fate had seen fit to give him a mate who hated him Dave didnt know. Life would be so much easier if Bens mate had been that fucker Steve, the full-human he was always around.