Riley's Downfall [Brac Pack 29] by Lynn Hagen Read Free Book Online

watched his mate, he saw years of weariness in the man’s light-grey eyes. He wondered what exactly Sterling had been through in such a short time.
Sterling’s brother Darcy had claimed that Sterling was immature and never took anything seriously, but Riley was starting to wonder if that wasn’t a façade. He hoped not. As quirky as his mate was, Riley didn’t want the man to change.
“Is there something you need?” Sterling asked as he looked up at Riley.
You.
    “ I needed to talk to you.” He waved toward the pig. “If this isn’t a bad time.” He couldn’t believe he was asking for time from the pig. He really was losing his mind.
    “ Come on in.” Sterling smiled at him, and Riley had to look away. The trust in that smile was more than he could handle at the moment. He was already whirling with everything that was on his plate.
    And he was not going to turn into a goober.
“I was just reading up on pig care. If you don’t mind, can you give me a ride into town tomorrow? I need to pick up some basic needs for Bacon.”
Riley’s brows shot to his hairline. “You named your pig Bacon?”
Sterling shrugged as he moved over, telling Riley without words that he wanted him to sit on the bed. “He seems to like it.” Sterling frowned. “Why, shouldn’t I have named him Bacon?”
Gods, Sterling confused the shit out of Riley. He wasn’t sure if he should laugh, hug the man for his naïve ways, or tell the man that it was the most inappropriate name he could have given the piglet.
He settled on a smile as he sat down, staring down at the comfortable-looking pig.“You know, most folks don’t keep a pig in the house.”
“But he’s my pet, Riley. Where else would I keep him?”
Riley could see that Sterling truly believed that. The man was convinced that the piglet was like a damn kitten or a puppy, an animal that belonged in the house. He wasn’t sure what to say. He knew the only thing that would do was the truth.
“He’s a farm animal, Sterling. He belongs outside on the farm.”
“No, he doesn’t,” Sterling stated as if Riley were the one being unreasonable. Riley decided to let it go. If keeping a pig in his room made Sterling happy, Riley could concede to such a small thing. Besides, he needed to talk to Sterling about something more important than a baby pig snuggled in the man’s bed like he owned the joint.
“I have been asked to be the temporary leader for the wood elves.”
“When do we leave?” Sterling asked as he set the book down. “It won’t take me long to pack. I don’t have much.”
Riley shook his head, dreading the next words. He didn’t want to see the look he was about to place on his mate’s face.“It would be better if you stayed here. I don’t know anyone there, Sterling. It isn’t safe. Pa’s mate killed the leader when Shanta tried to kidnap Cole, and I’m not too sure how receptive they are going to be having me guide them.”
Sterling stilled. A shadow fell over his light-grey eyes, and for the first time ever, the man remained quiet. He just sat there, staring down at his pig, but said nothing.
“They live very modestly, Sterling. They have no electricity, no running water, nothing. But I’ll still have my cell phone with me, and I can charge it in my truck.”
Sterling gave a slight nod.
“Call me if you need anything , understood?” Why did Riley feel like shit? Sterling’s face was unreadable, but Riley could feel the hurt coming off of the man in waves. It was better this way. He needed to go into the tribe and establish himself. He couldn’t do that and keep an eye on Sterling as well.
“I need to go pack. Pa and my brothers will make sure you stay safe, Sterling. They won’t let anything happen to you.”
Sterling gave a slight nod.
It was the hardest thing for Riley to do, but he knew he had to. Sterling wasn’t safe with the wood elves, and as much as it pained Riley to see that look on his mate’s face, he wasn’t taking any chances with