(Rated M for mentions of past abuse/trauma.)

Matt threw his keys on the kitchen table as he walked in kicking off his boots before heading over to the sofa. Plopping down in the middle, arms spread out along the back watching Sage as he walked into the kitchen.

"Better make it right this time." He called out.

Sage poured Matt a drink. It didn't matter how he made it because it would never be right even if it was perfect Matt would say it wasn't and hit him for it. Bowing his head as he handed the glass to him. Hearing him drink the whole thing before slamming the empty glass on the table. Matt leaning up just enough to grab Sage by his shirt yanking him to his knees.

"Maybe we're learning something after all." Growled Matt in his ear. His thick hand grabbing a tuff of Sage's hair. Jerking his head back, pulling tight while he started undoing his belt with his other hand.

"The beatings are finally sticking." Matt laughed to himself, as he finished undoing the front of his jeans.

"Be a good toy for me and . . . . " His words trailed off, the grip he had on Sage's hair loosened then fell away.

He was out cold.

* * * * *

The message Sage left him didn't give Colt much information to go off of just that he wanted to see him tonight. No clue as to where he wanted to meet. They only went on that first full moon together. Colt's gut telling him that's where Sage wanted to meet. Arriving there just after things died down at the clubhouse. Not acting out of character by leaving too early.

"Colt?" Called out Sage in a panic and out of breath.

He had run all the way here on two feet. The spot was a few miles from Matt's apartment. The shortcut he took knocked off sometime but he knew it wouldn't be long before Matt woke up. Colt stepped out from the shadows after he sensed it was only Sage, not thinking till after he got here that it might be some kind of set up. Using Sage as the bait to get him here alone.

Sage lost it as soon as he saw Colt. Tears pouring down his face; sobbing heavily as he fell to his knees, "I . . I broke. . broke rule three. . . I broke it. . . "

Rule three was never to lie. Colt had made that one out of humor when Sage lied and said he liked the terrible homemade biscuits he made for dinner one night.

"He. . . he . . . he made me do. . do it." Sage's crying made it hard for him to talk. Even harder from never catching his breath from running.

Colt knelt cupping the sides of Sage's face getting him to look up, "It's okay. I'm not mad. . you did what you had to do."

Colt's tone was calm and collected. He thought about using his scent to help calm Sage as well but it wouldn't work at all being bonded to another.

"But you need to stop crying. You asked me here for a reason I'm sure it wasn't just to tell me this."

Sage risked everything to give him that message and to be here tonight. Crying was just wasting time. Colt brushed away the tears that stained his cheeks with his thumb, giving him a few minutes to collect himself. Sage tried to steady his breathing.

"I heard Matt talking to . . . to Patrick. . . they have plans to kill. . . your father . . I think . . . that's why he marked me. Said killing me would be too easy and less fun. . . . but he . . . he needed to make sure I didn't say anything . . . bonding with me to make me do what he wanted. . . "

Which Sage did, he did everything Matt asked of him out of fear. He let Matt beat him. Force himself inside him. He did everything to stay alive and maybe buy time. Buy this time he had now with Colt.

"Threatening to kill you if I said anything or showed . . . showed that what we had wasn't real. . . it's not real. . I promise it's not. . . . I don't want . . . I didn't . . . "

Sage brought himself to tears again. He didn't want any of this. He wanted Colt to believe him that he didn't want the bonding that he didn't want to lie. Even if he knew that Colt didn't want him in return that didn't stop the spark that still burned in his chest for him. He wanted to protect Colt; he didn't want him to die. Sage risked it all to be here. Going against his bond with Matt, against his alpha to tell Colt the things he's heard.

Colt's eyes narrowed as Sage spoke listening to everything he was saying. Plans to hurt his father? What did Patrick want with his father? The questions rolled through his mind.

"I . . . I heard him talking again a few days ago . . say. . . saying that everything was a go that Adam was in finally . . . and . . . they were going to make the hit. I didn't hear when it was going to happen. . . . but you need to know. I should have told you sooner. . . I should . . "

Sage pushed himself into Colt's chest wrapping his frail arms around his large frame sobbing. "I'm sorry. . . I . . I don't want you to die. . . I don't want anyone to die."

Colt held him close, "I believe you."

Stroking his hair, "I believe you."

He knew Sage didn't want to be bonded to Matt. He knew that from the moment he found out about it. He never trusted Matt from the start either voting against him from joining the ranks. He knew Sage didn't have an evil bone in his body even with all the wrong that has been done to him.

His anger growing as Sage confirmed everything he felt to be true. He was the one that should have done something when all of this had started. Letting the bond stir him away. Telling himself it was out of his hands, nothing could be done.

What shocked him the most was that Adam his uncle was in on the whole thing as well. Colt needed to know everything Sage knew but he didn't want to push him too hard, "Do you know why?" He asked leaning back looking down at Sage.

"The land, they want the land." More territory for them to control and do as they pleased with.

"Sage." Whispered Colt in a dead serious tone, "When I say run you run."

"RUN!"