Chapter 6
Boaz
Boaz resisted the urge to fidget under the scrutiny. He knew he looked different. He didn’t clean up like this often. But it wasn’t a reason for Hansel to stare at him like that.
“Everything okay?” Hansel asked.
“Yes.” Boaz bristled at the question. He didn’t have to sound so surprised. It wasn’t like Boaz never made an effort.
“Well…” Hansel hesitated, glancing between them. “Why are you two holding hands?”
Holding hands.
Boaz blinked, looking down and only then realizing he was still gripping Alexander’s hand. He’d been so focused on getting him away from Lyla that he hadn’t even noticed.
He let go immediately, dragging his hand back and wiping it against his pants as a strange tingling sensation crawled up his fingers, his arm, all the way to his neck.
Fuck.
“I’m taking him to Manlius,” Boaz said defensively as he moved toward his truck.
Hansel followed close behind.
“Did something happen?” he asked. “Why is he even here? I thought you told him to leave and never come back.”
He never said that.
But Hansel must have filled in the gaps himself. Boaz hadn’t told him much about his talk with the vampire last night. Left out the part where Alexander said he would come back… and claim his bride.
Lyla.
Boaz’s grip tightened on the steering wheel at the thought. Even now, he couldn’t bring himself to tell him.
“He just showed up,” Boaz said instead.
Hansel’s head snapped toward Alexander, a low growl building in his throat.
“Hansel, just leave him,” Boaz said quickly. “He needs to be checked by a healer anyway. After Manlius and his friend look at him, he’ll leave.”
“And never come back,” Hansel added, his stare fixed on Alexander.
Alexander didn’t react. He just looked back at him, calm… almost bored. That only made things worse.
Hansel’s jaw tightened as he took a step forward, his body already starting to shift, tension coiling through him. Boaz got out of the truck and stepped between them before things could get dangerous.
“Stop, Hansel.”
“Let him try, Boaz,” Alexander said, almost amused. “Little dogs need to be trained to know their place.”
That did it.
Hansel snarled, the sound erupting out of him as brown and white fur spread over his skin, his body twisting, growing. His clothes tore apart as the shift took over him completely.
Boaz barely had time to react before he threw himself forward, wrapping his arms around the wolf, trying to hold him back.
Pain exploded through his arm as teeth sank into his flesh.
“Fuck, Hansel,” Boaz groaned, his grip tightening despite the pain.
The wolf froze.
Then, just as quickly, Hansel pulled back, shifting again until he stood there, staring at the damage he’d done.
“Boaz… I’m sorry,” he said, guilt flooding his face. “Let me get something to wrap your arm.”
“No. It’s fine,” Boaz said, already pulling away. “We have to go.”
He didn’t want to stay here any longer. Didn’t want this to drag on. He just wanted the night to be over. And the vampire gone.
“Get in the car, Alex,” he commanded, rounding the truck and sliding into the driver’s seat.
He started the engine just as Alexander got in beside him. He drove off, holding the steering wheel lightly as pain shot through his arm with every movement.
Beside him, Alexander let out a low, strained moan.
Boaz turned toward him and froze.
The vampire was already staring at him, his eyes… burning red.
Boaz sucked in a breath.
“What’s wrong with you?” Boaz asked, ignoring the ever-present tingle at his neck every time Alexander’s eyes went red.
“Nothing,” Alexander said, shoving the window open and leaned out, dragging in a deep breath like he’d been suffocating.
Boaz frowned but said nothing, turning his attention back to the road.
The truck rolled forward, tires crunching over gravel as they made their way down the uneven dirt path that cut through the forest. Ahead, the valley opened up, and the town came into view.
Only then did Alexander pull back inside.
Boaz glanced at him and stilled again.
His eyes were still red. More intense than Boaz had ever seen.
“Where are we going?” Alexander asked, his voice rough. “I thought you were taking me to a healer.”
“I am,” Boaz said.
Silence filled the car again, thick and uncomfortable.
“How much further?” Alexander asked after a few seconds. This time, the strain in his voice was worse.
“We’re almost there. Just relax,” Boaz said, his brows pulling together. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Fuck…” Alexander dragged a hand through his hair, his breathing uneven. “I can’t take it. I’ll meet you there.”
Boaz shot him a look. “What?”
“I need to get out of the damn truck,” Alexander said. “I can’t take the smell anymore.”
The smell? What smell?
“But you don’t even know where we’re going,” Boaz said.
“I’ll find you,” Alexander replied. “Your damn smell won’t be hard to track.”
And then he was gone.
Boaz blinked, staring at the empty seat for a second.
“The smell?”
Frowning, he sniffed at himself, lifting his arm slightly.
“Fuck you, I don’t smell,” he muttered, shaking his head as he focused back on the road. The rough gravel giving way to smooth pavement as he entered town.
On either side of the road, small, quaint shops lined the street. The hand-painted signs never failed to make Boaz smile. It helped push away the strange tension Alexander had left behind.
Boaz drove past the town center and into the residential area. At the end of a cul-de-sac sat Manlius’s coven, the property taking up most of the block.
Boaz pulled into the driveway and cut the engine.
For a moment, he just sat there, waiting for Alexander to appear.
He didn’t.
Shit.
Did he run away?
Boaz frowned as he climbed out of the truck. He paused for a moment, scanning the driveway, as if the bastard would appear any second.
But still he didn’t.
“Fucking hell,” Boaz grumbled in annoyance before turning and heading up to the door. He raised his hand and knocked.
A few minutes passed before the door was opened. Manlius stood there, his eyes immediately flicking over Boaz’s shoulder. When he found no one, his eyes settled back on Boaz.
“Don’t ask,” Boaz said, brushing past him and stepping inside. “He said he’ll be here.” The moment he crossed the threshold, Boaz wrinkled his nose, the heavy scent of incense and melted candle wax overwhelming him.
“Okay…” Manlius said as he turned and led the way deeper into the house.
Boaz followed him down the hall to a room at the back. The smell grew stronger there. The moment he stepped inside, he understood why.
Dozens of candles, covered every surface in the room—tables, shelves, even the floor in some places. Thin streams of incense smoke curled through the air, drifting lazily, making the whole room feel hazy.
“Brett, he’s here,” Manlius said, moving toward a table where a man stood with his back to them, dressed in denim from head to toe.
“Oh, that’s great,” the man said, blowing out a matchstick as he turned. A small smile formed when he saw Boaz, but it faded as his eyes dropped to Boaz’s arm.
“You’re hurt.”
Boaz glanced down. “Yeah, but it’s nothing.”
“Do you mind?” Brett asked, already stepping closer.
Boaz gave a short shake of his head and rolled up his sleeve. The fabric dragged against the bite, and he hissed under his breath as pain flared.
“That’s a werewolf bite,” Manlius said, coming closer. “What happened?”
“Hansel bit me,” Boaz admitted.
Manlius’s brows pulled together. “Why?”
“He wanted to fight the vampire,” Boaz said. “I got between them. Should’ve been more careful.”
“The bite isn’t deep,” Brett said after a quick look. “I’ll clean it and put something on it.”
He guided Boaz toward the table, where a porcelain basin sat filled with water. The surface rippled as Brett dipped a cloth into it.
Boaz tensed as the cloth touched the wound as Brett cleaned it carefully. Then he applied the salve, his touch gentle and soothing. Boaz sighed as the salve cooled the heat of the bite.
“Thanks,” Boaz said once he was done.
“You’re welcome,” Brett said, wiping his hands on a cloth before glancing around the room. “Are you sure he’s coming?”
Right then, a knock echoed faintly from the front of the house.
Boaz straightened slightly.
“I’ll get it,” Manlius said, already heading out.
The room fell quiet again, filled only with the flicker of candlelight. A few minutes later, footsteps approached as Manlius returned with Alexander.
The vampire stepped into the room, and the first thing Boaz noticed was the way his nostrils flared slightly, as if he was smelling something unpleasant.
Then Alexander looked at him, his expression shifted into clear disgust.
Boaz frowned, caught off guard.
What the hell is his problem?
He turned toward the window suddenly self-conscious. He took a deep breath trying to ignore it. Trying to ignore him. But without thinking, he subtly sniffed at himself again, a small crease forming between his brows.
“Your Majesty, this is Brett. He’s a healer. He’s the one who’s going to run some tests to see if you’re still infected or not.”
Boaz glanced over at Manlius, one brow lifting slightly at the way he said Your Majesty. Like Alexander actually deserved respect.
Boaz almost snorted.
Half the time, he forgot the vampire was a king. It was hard to remember when Alexander had been nothing but rude to him.
“I feel fine,” Alexander said.
“That’s good,” Brett replied. He stepped closer, studying Alexander carefully, his eyes moving over him with intense focus. “Have you experienced any blackouts? Waking up and realizing you’ve lost time?”
“No.”
“You haven’t noticed any dark veins under your skin? Anything unusual?”
“No.”
Brett nodded slightly, then asked, “Do you have any irrational urges to kill or dominate?”
The question was met with silence. Boaz turned around to find Alexander staring at him.
Fuck.
Boaz swallowed hard.
“No,” Alexander finally said as he looked away.
“Alright,” Brett said, gesturing toward the table. “Come this way. I’m going to take your blood.”
Alexander moved, but slowed as he got closer, his steps stalling just short of the table.
The room went quiet again.
“Can you remove the basin?” Alexander said, his voice edged with irritation. “It reeks.”
Boaz followed his gaze to the porcelain basin Brett had just used to clean his wound.
He walked over, grabbed the basin, and lifted it off the table.
“You don’t have to be rude,” he said as he turned and headed for the door.
Manlius followed him out into the hallway.
Boaz stopped, running a hand through his hair as he took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down.
The vampire was really pushing him.
He turned and shoved the basin into Manlius’s hands.
“Let me know how the test goes,” Boaz said. “And if we need to kill the bastard once and for all.”
Manlius looked at him, amusement flickering in his eyes.
“You want to kill him… after you saved him?” he asked
“Yes. I must have been out of my mind,” Boaz groaned. “Why didn’t you stop me?”
Manlius chuckled. “You wanted to save him. Who am I to get in your way?”
Boaz huffed, a low growl slipping out as he turned and walked out of the house, not bothering to respond.
He headed straight for his truck, climbed in, and started the engine. Without a second thought, he drove off.
The drive back felt longer than it should have. His mind kept circling the same things— the way Alexander had looked at him, the way he’d reacted to the smell his blood, the way everything about him felt… off. The way Boaz had felt every time the bastard’s eyes went red.
By the time he reached the pack grounds, his head ached. And the headache got even worse when he reached his cabin.
Boaz slowed when he reached the bottom of the steps and saw Hansel was sitting on the porch. Waiting.
“What are you still doing awake?” Boaz asked as he climbed the steps and pushed the door open.
“I was waiting for you,” Hansel said, standing up. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets, shoulders hunched like he wasn’t sure how to start. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I know,” Boaz said. “Brett said the bite wasn’t deep. He cleaned it and put some salve on it.”
“Good,” Hansel said, though he didn’t look fully convinced. He shifted his weight, glancing down, then back up again. “I should go. Its late.”
“Where were you? You weren’t at dinner,” Boaz said before he could leave.
“Shit, I forgot to tell you because of the…” He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes dropping to Boaz’s arm. Guilt flashed across his face before he forced himself to look up again. “I went to the monastery.”
Boaz frowned. “The monastery? Why?”
“To find out why that damn vampire woke up.” Hansel's voice went low. “Get this…the current Priest? He refused to feed him, and now he’s dead.”
Boaz straightened slightly. “Dead?”
“That bloodsucker killed him,” Hansel said. “Bit him and drank him dry. Brother Lacus could barely get the words out when he told me.”
Boaz’s eyes widened.
“And it gets worse,” Hansel said. “The vampire stayed there for two days after he woke up.”
“Why?” Boaz asked.
“He was waiting for blood,” he said. “Your blood. That’s why he came here.”
Boaz went quiet for a second, his thoughts churning. There was one other reason why he came.
“He came for Lyla too,” he said slowly. “She’s his bride.”
Hansel let out a growl. “Fuck that. Are you seriously going to let him have her?”
“Of course not,” Boaz said. “Why do you think I got dressed up tonight? But everything just went to shit when the vampire appeared.”
“Don’t give up. She’ll be yours, just keep working on it,” Hansel said.
“Fuck, why is this so hard?” Boaz asked rubbing the back of his neck.
“Love is hard. You have to fight for it,” Hansel said with a tiny smile as he walked down the stairs backwards. “Night, Boaz.”
“Night,” Boaz said as he watched him disappear through the trees, before he turned and stepped into his cabin, shutting the door behind him. Exhaustion dragged at his limbs as if he’d spent hours working the fields without a break.
He stripped out of his clothes, down to his boxers, and dropped onto the bed. The mattress groaned under his weight as he turned to face the painting.
It rested where he’d left it, waiting. He hadn’t even gotten the chance to bring her here. To show her. To give it to her.
That damn vampire was ruining everything.