pure sweet violent hearts

Her question wasn't surprising, given what he'd said. Such an extended absence from a pack was bizarre, sure. He could have joined up with others along the way, but at the time Riordan didn't feel ready for that. The man gave a small shrug when Bhreac backtracked, trying to charm the nerves out of her with a lazy smile, and then thought of a quick answer.

"I have a family, yeah," and he loved them dearly, but their ways just didn't mesh with his own. "They've always been a small, strict group. I didn't agree with... A lot of the fundamentals," that was putting it mildly, and after saying that, Riordan felt like he was skipping around the point. But he didn't want to outline his parent's beliefs, or the fact that the pack felt like a cult most of the time; a church of too many gods with too many rules about enjoying life. "So I left. According to my father's will, once you leave there is no returning." Of course, it helped that the pack regularly migrated, and kept themselves hidden on purpose. Even if he had wanted to return, he'd never be able to find them now.

After explaining this last detail, Riordan turned a bit pensive. His smile seemed more strained, like he was keeping it on just for show, and then he outright looked away from the pale woman beside him; sometime during this conversation he had sat down, which he realized when he dragged his tail across his paws. Absently, he asked, "What about you?"