Riley’s Downfall(14)
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 Sterling’s safety. He wasn’t going to be gone long. Just as soon as Ahm found a replacement, Riley would be back and Sterling would be bugging him again.
Riley realized that he had never met Ahm. Not in all the time the elves had been in this territory. Well, he guessed he would be meeting the man soon since it was Ahm who would relieve him of this responsibility.
Riley didn’t want to go, but he wasn’t going to allow his pa to take his place. His pa had other obligations, and Riley had one, Sterling. But he knew Sterling would be safe here. His brothers may clown around a lot, and they may slack off on work, but they would protect Sterling with their very lives. Of this, he had absolutely no doubt.
He gave one last long look at Sterling before Riley headed for the bedroom door.
* * * *
“Why are we heading to a tribe of elves again?” Max asked as he sat next to his mates Chey and Eagle as Eagle drove down the long stretch of road on Route 14. He couldn’t believe that the alpha had pulled Max away from Pride Pack Valley General to go visit some elves. He had scheduled surgeries and patient appointments that he had to hand off just to go frolicking in the woods. And he was still a bit confused about why.
“Because,” Eagle said as he turned his blinker on and then made a left turn, “the wood elves’ healer has disappeared and Alpha Maverick wanted us to check the wood elves out, make sure they were healthy, and possibly help the tribe until a replacement is found.”