With Abandon: With or Without, Book 4

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    Bambi’s pleas hit him and he found himself confessing. “I love Matt and I have no intention of hiding
    him.”
    The tension around Bambi’s mouth eased a little, but the sadness in his eyes increased. “Is love
    enough?”
    “Goddammit, would you stop already?” Shaking his head, Gadget took a deep, steadying breath and
    turned toward Aubrey. “You have my blessing. If you love him and he loves you, everything else will work itself out. But you need to be telling him all this, not us.”
    “Fuck you, Gadget. You don’t know shit.” Despite the strong language, there was no heat in Bambi’s
    outburst. In a whisper, he added, “You don’t know what it’s like.”
    Aubrey’s heart went out to the man. He obviously spoke from personal experience. It was humbling
    to see this big man filled with so much pain and heartache. Aubrey wanted to know his story, but at the same time he didn’t. It hit too close to home. Was this what Matt had felt this past month? It pained Aubrey to even consider it. “I promise you. I will not hurt Matt. If he’ll forgive me, I’ll do my damnedest to make him happy.”
    Letting out a loud sigh, Bambi stood. “All right, Aubrey. I won’t stand in the way. Do you want me to
    go wake him?”
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    With Abandon
    “He can talk to Matthew tomorrow. The boy is dead on his feet. Take him upstairs to Matthew and
    Logan’s room, and let him get some sleep. I think Eddie is in bed with Matthew, but there should be room for Aubrey too.”
    Aubrey didn’t even think of objecting. He was tired, but more than that he wanted to see Matt. To hold him, even if Matt didn’t know he was there. He stood and followed Bambi.
    “Night, Aubrey, and welcome to the family,” Gadget called after them.
    That simple statement from his mate’s father actually made Aubrey’s eyes watery. Here the man was
    dealing with his wife’s abandonment, and he was welcoming Aubrey into his family so graciously. It gave Aubrey hope for the future. He could deal with the complication of outing himself as long as he had
    support. He didn’t know what to say in the face of that sincerity, so he simply said, “Thank you,” and
    hurried after Bambi.
    They reached the upstairs, and Bambi stopped at the first door.
    “This is it.” Bambi paused with his hand on the doorknob. “Listen, Aubrey. I want us to get along. I
    just—”
    “Care about Matt.” Aubrey nodded. “And because of that we will get along. Thank you for looking
    out for him. I promise you, I’ll do right by him.”
    “You better. I suspect he’ll appreciate having you here. His mom leaving bothers him more than he’s
    letting on. You know him. He’s trying to be strong and supportive for his brothers. I’m not sure it’s hit him yet.” He opened the door and stepped out of the way. Before he walked off he patted Aubrey on the back.
    “Night.”
    “Night.” Aubrey stood in the doorway for several seconds letting his eyes adjust to the light. A tiny
    boy lay fast asleep in the middle of a bed across from the door, but he was by himself. Aubrey took a sniff.
    Matt’s scent lingered, but it wasn’t strong. There were two other people, both wolves, in the bed by the opposite wall, but no Matt. A frisson of unease washed over Aubrey. “Bambi?” Aubrey turned from the
    door and inhaled deeply. Again Matt’s scent was faint. He wasn’t in the house.
    Bambi frowned and scented the air. He squeezed through the door, past Aubrey. He stood there for a
    few seconds and came back out, before going to another door and throwing it open. “Matthew?”
    Aubrey started down the stairs, meeting Gadget on his way up.
    “What’s wrong?” Gadget asked.
    “Matt’s not here.” He followed his nose, trying to trace his mate’s scent.
    “What do you mean Matthew’s not here? Did you check the bathroom? Or he might be outside. He
    sits on the swing to think sometimes.”
    Aubrey followed Matt’s faint scent to the open back door. “Matt’s not close. I’d know. I would’ve
    sensed him. Was this open the whole time we were down here?” Aubrey’s throat and chest tightened. Now
    that he thought about it, he hadn’t gotten that sense of Matt when he’d entered the house.

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    J.L. Langley
    Gadget stopped beside him. “It had to be. I didn’t open it.” He pushed it open as the sound of feet
    pounded down the stairs behind them. “You didn’t have to fight your