With Abandon: With or Without, Book 4

thing or a bad thing. Aubrey’s lack of accent meant he was very much in
    control. It was hard to imagine the man Matt loved in this unimpassioned person.
    “Oh yeah?” Keaton’s voice actually got louder. It echoed through the den.
    “Oh shit.” Chay groaned and leaned forward on the couch, readying himself to intervene.
    Matt couldn’t move. His instincts screamed at him to run to his mate’s defense, but Aubrey wouldn’t
    want him to do so.
    As Keaton launched himself at Aubrey, his hands shifted into claws.
    Aubrey flew out of the chair before his younger brother reached him, with equally lethal-looking
    claws cocked back ready for the attack.
    It never came.
    With a gasp, Keaton stopped so swiftly he stumbled.
    “Holy shit.” Chay shot off the couch, wrapped an arm around his much-smaller mate and jerked him
    back.

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    J.L. Langley
    Matt sat there in a daze, fully aware of the tension in the room. Heck, he was strung so tight he felt ready to break in two. Aubrey could do a partial shift without shifting his eyes and teeth? How was that even possible? Keaton could do it because he had three forms. Matt stared at his mate without actually
    seeing him. Ohmigod, Aubrey has three forms.
    “How? When?” Keaton asked quietly.
    “How and when, what?” Aubrey shouted.
    With his arm still protectively encircling Keaton, Chay pointed at Aubrey’s hands. “When did you
    gain the ability to do that? What else can you do?”
    A furrow creased Aubrey’s forehead, and he looked down. “Fuck.” He shook his hands as if to
    remove something from them. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” When he stopped moving, his hands were human. He
    turned his back and walked to the French doors with his shoulders slumped. “It doesn’t matter now
    anyway.”
    Like a shock wave, Aubrey’s power radiated through the room, making Matt’s breath catch.
    Chay and Keaton gasped in unison as it hit them.
    Whoa, not only had Aubrey not said anything, he’d been purposely hiding how powerful he was. And
    how could he do that? Matt panted for breath, flabbergasted at the revelation. He wasn’t the only one
    Aubrey had hid it from. That should make him feel better, but it didn’t.
    “You said no more secrets.” Matt was across the room before he even realized what he was doing. He
    couldn’t help it though. Aubrey had promised only truth between them back when he’d told—no not told,
    Matt had accidentally found out Aubrey was gay.
    Aubrey turned, staring right at Matt. His shoulders drooped, and he heaved a sigh.
    “How long?” Keaton sounded confused and hurt. “Why? I don’t understand. Why would you let all of
    us think you didn’t possess the same abilities Dad and I have?”
    “About a week after you realized you had three forms.” Aubrey turned his gaze from Matt to focus on
    his brother. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to be the golden child?” Aubrey’s voice was soft, a little sad. “I hoped in this one thing you’d have to take the responsibility. I wanted you to have to shoulder some of the burden.” He made a rusty sound that should’ve been a chuckle, but there was nothing amusing in it.
    “Didn’t work though. You refused to take over the pack.” He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I’ve owned up to my obligations, and there’s no reason to hide it now.”
    “The fight—when I was sixteen. It was to force me to show my power so I’d be named the next
    Alpha?” Keaton radiated anger. His hands fisted and unfisted.
    “Didn’t work, huh?” Aubrey shrugged again. “At least it kept everyone from picking on you because
    you’re gay.”
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    With Abandon
    “Fuck you. You let me think you hated me all this time? You could’ve talked to me, damn it. I
    would’ve understood. I might’ve even stayed to help you with Reynolds Inc. and the pack. Fuck you,
    Aubrey.”
    Matt stood frozen in place. His mate was apparently very good at keeping secrets. “What else are you
    hiding?” he whispered, afraid to learn the answer.
    “Did he tell you he’s getting married in January?” Keaton scoffed.
    “Damn it, would you stop?” Aubrey pointed at his brother. “I’m not getting married in January.
    Why’re you so hell-bent on making trouble?”
    “Try again, asshole. Mom said you’re marrying Tara next year.”
    “I never told mom I was marrying Tara. I told her I’d start looking for a wife to give her a grandchild and maybe she