With Abandon: With or Without, Book 4

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    With Abandon
    Aubrey took a deep breath and tried to focus. “Stan, get me more pack out here.” He realized he was
    gritting his teeth and forced himself to stop. “I want Boskie found. He couldn’t have gotten that far. Call Jarred and have him start a search at his place and head over here.”
    “Yes, sir.” Stan pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed.
    “Stan, does Ronny Swanzy still work at the airport?”
    Stan nodded and immediately began talking to someone.
    Aubrey picked up his phone and dialed Matt again on his way to the office. It went straight to voice
    mail so he hung up.
    Just as he sat in the desk chair, a knock sounded at the front door. Setting his phone down, Aubrey
    stood back up and inhaled. Could it be—? “Son of a bitch.” It couldn’t be this easy.
    Stan beat him to the door by a second. The look he turned on Aubrey said he too realized who had
    knocked.
    Aubrey took several steps back and nodded at Stan to open the door.
    Only Boskie’s pathetic appearance kept Aubrey from attacking him. Boskie stood on the porch, his
    head hanging down and shoulders hunched over, looking like he’d been in a fight with a wildcat. He didn’t have any noticeable physical injuries, but his clothes and hair were a mess. There were bags under his
    bloodshot eyes when he looked up at Aubrey.
    “Is he here? Did he make it here?” He sounded panicked, and the smell of his fear was staggering.
    “What do you want me to do with him, boss?” Stan bared his teeth, never taking his attention from
    Boskie. He could spring at any moment.
    Boskie ignored Stan and started forward. His expression was so hopeless and pleading Aubrey nearly
    felt sorry for him. “Aubrey, I have to know. Did Carson make it here all right?”
    Grabbing Orin’s arm, Stan jerked him back.
    “It’s okay, Stan.” Aubrey waved the man away. “Stop bullshitting me, Orin. You better start talking.
    I’m this close”—Aubrey held his fingers and thumb about an inch apart—“to killing your sorry ass. I’ve told you in no uncertain terms to leave Carson alone. Not only is this the second time you’ve attacked him, but you’ve threatened my mate now as well. I’m done talking.”
    Boskie shook his head frantically. “No. I didn’t attack him. I was just—” His head dropped again, and
    he fell to his knees. “Forgive me.” He bared his throat, showing his submission, and started rambling again.
    “He’s here? He’s okay? I was trying to bring him to you after I changed him. I tried to tell him what I did and why, but he freaked out on me. He jumped out of the car while it was still moving. I stopped, but he was so upset. He wouldn’t even let me make sure he wasn’t hurt. He took off running. When I realized he was headed here, I just let him go to keep him from hurting himself more.”
    “Wait, are you saying you didn’t beat him up and dump him on pack land?”
    “What? No. I was rough, I admit it, but…” Boskie lowered his gaze again.

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    “How did he end up being changed?”
    “When he wouldn’t see me, I went to him. I cut him and myself and— I didn’t beat him up, Aubrey. I
    scared him, but I just thought if Carson were a wolf he’d understand. If he could know the mating bond, he’d stop—” Letting out a sigh, he dropped his head again.
    Aubrey had never witnessed Boskie be anything but cocky and overbearing. He wouldn’t have
    believed it if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes. This was no act. Orin was distraught. Something inside Aubrey softened. He waved Stan, who was hovering over Boskie, off again. He understood all too well the panic that set in with facing the loss of a mate. He felt it now. He wanted Matt.
    Running his hands through his hair, Aubrey took a deep breath. Being the responsible pack leader was
    tiring. No wonder his dad wanted to retire.
    Aubrey didn’t pretend to get why Orin had cheated on his mate to begin with, especially knowing
    how she would react when she found out. This whole thing could’ve been avoided just by keeping his dick in his pants. Shaking his head, Aubrey grabbed Orin under the arm and hauled him up.
    Stan was on Boskie’s other side in an instant. “If you were so concerned about keeping Marina from
    finding out, why did you do it in the first place?”
    Shrugging, Boskie stepped back. “I couldn’t help myself. I never meant to hurt her, but