Riley's Downfall [Brac Pack 29] by Lynn Hagen

man a piece of his mind when he heard small squeals coming from the back of his truck. Walking away from the elven, Riley stopped when he reached the tailgate and listened closely.
“Hush, Bacon, before you get us caught.”
Riley grabbed the edge of the tarp and pulled it up, groaning when he saw Sterling lying between his luggage bags, Bacon tucked tightly in his arms. “What are you doing here, Sterling?”
Sterling gasped and looked around the bed of the truck. “This isn’t my bed.”
“No shit,” Riley snapped as he released the tarp and slapped his hands on his hips. It kept him from trying to strangle Sterling. “I told you to stay with my family, Sterling. I have no idea how these elves are going to act.”
“Elven,” the elven man standing close by corrected Riley.“And why would we harm a human? He hasn’t done anything to offend us. It was your father’s mate who killed our leader. How dare Ahm send the killer’s family to guide us!”
Riley moved closer to Sterling, ready to protect his mate if this guy tried anything. He was pretty sure he could take the man down, but he was one bear, and there were plenty of elves.
“If you harm my mate, you won’t live long enough to regret it,” Riley threatened.
“Whoa,” Sterling said as he pushed from the bed of the truck, holding Bacon close. “I’m your mate, and you didn’t tell me?”
Sterling sounded pissed off, and Riley was not in the mood to deal with an irate elven and a pissed-off mate at the same time. “We’ll discuss this later, Sterling.”
“Oh, buddy, you better believe we will.” Sterling turned toward the elven, the angry lines on his face softening.“I’m Sterling. Who are you?”
“I am called Iam.”
“You are…what?” Sterling asked, looking confused as hell.
“No, I-A-M.”
“Oh.” Sterling blinked a few times at the man, and Riley knew his mate still didn’t understand. The look was adorable, even though Riley was pissed at his mate. The man just couldn’t seem to stop putting himself in harm’s way. The idea of tying Sterling up came to mind, but Riley had a feeling the man would somehow find a way out of his bindings.
The dark-blond human was going to be Riley’s downfall.
“Do you have a bathroom?” Sterling asked as he quickly glanced around. “That was a long trip.”
“Over there.” Iam pointed to an outhouse.
Sterling shoved Bacon into Riley’s arms and then took off across the village. Riley growled and went after his mate. He didn’t like Sterling so far away from him when he didn’t know if these men were hostile or not. And from the way Iam was acting, he was beginning to think he would have to shove Sterling in his front pocket to keep the man safe.
Sterling was holding a small bottle of blue stuff between his lips and rubbing his hands together furiously as he stepped out of the outhouse. Riley arched an eyebrow at the guy. Sterling rolled his eyes, finished rubbing his hands together, and then shoved the little bottle into his pants.
“There’s no sink to wash your hands,” Sterling whispered. “Do you know how unsanitary that is? I’m not sure I would shake anyone’s hand if I were you. They could be filled with germs and then if you rub your hand on your face…” Sterling shivered. “People aren’t aware of how often they actually touch their faces. Just don’t touch anyone.”
Riley gave his head a quick shake as his mate complained about unsanitary conditions but took the piglet back into his arms. Sterling even started crooning to the damn thing, kissed it on the head, and then started back toward the truck.
And he thought the bathroom was unsanitary?
“I would be happy to take the piglet to the cooking dwelling if you so wish,” Iam said.
Riley froze for a moment when he heard those words and then took off running after Sterling. He could just see where this conversation was going, and this time he was afraid for the wood elf.
“Really?” Sterling said as he started to