“That includes just about everyone,” Chance said and then held his hands up when Riley glared at his brother.
“Talk to me, Sterling. What happened?” Pa asked Riley’s mate. “No one is going to harm you.”
Sterling glanced at each and every man standing there. Riley had rallied the posse, bringing every brother with him except Roman, who was working on expanding the rec center. A virtual army of Lakeland men surrounded the area.
“It’s stupid,” Sterling murmured as he adjusted the…was that a baby carrier Bacon was sitting in? Riley wasn’t sure giving the pig to his mate had been such a wise choice. His mate was treating the piglet like a small child.
Maybe he should have given him a goldfish instead.
“Sterling.” His pa said Sterling’s name in warning, but gently.
“He called me a weirdo and laughed at Bacon!” Sterling shouted, his eyes misting. Riley stood there gaping at his mate. All of this was because someone had picked on Sterling’s pig? Riley groaned.
What in the hell was he going to do with his mate?
The man was impossible!
Riley walked over to Sterling, grabbed him by the back of his neck, and hauled Sterling into his arms, planting the biggest kiss imaginable on his mate’s lips. He could feel his face, neck, and ears heating up to the point that it felt like the sun was scorching him when he heard hoots and laughter coming from behind him.
Gods, he wished his brothers would get a life.
This was the first time Riley had openly showed any kind of affection toward his mate in front of his family. He was aloof, moody, and quiet. But for Sterling, Riley would fall headfirst down that road into blissful mating.
“You finally fell on your ass!” Chance hooted from behind him. “I told you it would happen.”
Riley turned his head, feeling a growl vibrating in his chest. Even he was surprised when a chuckle fell from his lips instead. He hugged Sterling to his chest and grinned, enjoying the knowledge that his mate was safe.
Strange, but safe.
“Holy shit!” Gavin said as he took a step backward, his arms going wide as if to ward off trouble. “He’s smiling. I think the world is about to end. Save the children!”
“Shut the fuck up,” Riley shot at Gavin, but he couldn’t stop grinning.
“Did I miss something?” Kenway asked, looking so damn confused that all Riley could do was continue to grin.
“How about you come to dinner at the Lakeland ranch, and we’ll tell you all about it?” Pa asked the buffalo shifter.
“I definitely missed something,” the man muttered, shaking his head in confusion.
“What about Bacon?” Sterling whispered against Riley’s chest. “He made fun of my pet.”
Riley placed his hand on the small of Sterling’s back, guiding his mate toward his truck. “Hon, we really need to talk about this pig of yours.”
* * * *
Sterling grumbled under his breath as he sat at the kitchen table with the rest of the ever-growing Lakeland clan. He was really starting to get tired of everyone making fun of his pet. So, he spoiled the pig?
So the fuck what?
He got it that pigs usually lived outside in the barn. He knew pigs were for meat. He even understood that he had probably gone a little overboard with the whole baby carrier and pink painted nails thing.
He had just never had a pet before, and he had adored Bacon from the second he set eyes on her. Receiving her as a gift from Riley just made her that much more special. What was he doing that was so wrong?
Riley loved his horse. He created a place in the barn for him and hand-fed him carrots and apples. He had even bought Warrior a special blanket to wear under his saddle. Was that any different than what Sterling was doing with Bacon?
Sterling frowned when someone else made a joke about the pink nails. He was too upset to pin the voice down, but it had to be someone at the table, which meant it was most likely a family member of some sort.
He couldn’t stand it anymore.
Sterling pushed himself away from the table, grabbed his half-filled plate, and carried it over by the trash can. He quickly scraped the food off into the garbage and then rinsed his plate and set it in the dish drainer.
He paused at the sink, listening. He hoped that someone at some point would stick up for him, but they all just thought he was weird. Not even Riley said anything.
Sick to his stomach with heartache, Sterling walked into the living room and retrieved his pig. Bacon was sleeping peacefully in the soft little cat bed that Sterling had purchased for her. She looked like an angel in pink toenails and a bow.
He really didn’t see what was so wrong about what he had done. He loved his pig. He cradled Bacon in his arms wondering if maybe everyone was right and he was crazy. It was certainly looking like it.