Chapter 36
Boaz
Amonth later.
Hansel wouldn’t stop calling.
Boaz stared at his phone and groaned, letting it ring. His brother’s name flashed across the screen again, and he had no idea what to say anymore. Last week, he’d promised he’d only stay one more week but that week had come and gone.
And Alexander wasn’t awake yet.
His excuses were running thin, and Hansel wasn’t the type to just let things go. Boaz exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. He couldn’t stay here forever. His pack needed him.
Boaz turned away from Alexander’s still form and stared out the window as he answered the call.
“I know, Hansel,” he said, his voice low.
There was a brief pause before Hansel spoke again. “Are you coming home, then?”
Boaz stared out at nothing in particular, jaw tightening. “Yes,” he said. “I’ll be there next week.”
Another pause.
“Boaz… do you want me to come there?” Hansel asked.
“No,” he said quickly. “I know I can’t stay here forever. But… I don’t know how to leave him, Hansel.” His gaze drifted back to Alexander. “He doesn’t even know I’m here. He might never wake up… and still, all I want is to be next to him. I miss him so much.” He sniffed.
“Are you crying?” a familiar voice came from behind him.
Boaz froze in place, his heart hammering in his chest. He slowly turned and faced Alexander. He sat in bed, his eyes narrowed as he stared at him.
“You’re…” Boaz choked as tears filled his eyes. “You’re awake.”
“Hmmm.”
Boaz just stared at him, frozen, unsure what to do. He had prayed for this moment, ached for it and now that it was finally here, he didn’t know what to do
“Come here, baby.”
“I…” Tears filled his eyes, and this time he couldn’t hold them back. They spilled over, blurring everything.
Alexander swung his legs off the bed and crossed the room in a few quick steps, pulling him into a tight embrace. He crushed their bodies together, holding on as if he never wanted to let go, squeezing the air from Boaz’s lungs.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you hurt.”
“You were going to leave me,” Boaz said, burying his face in Alexander’s chest, his grip tightening. “Don’t you ever leave me. Ever.”
“I won’t,” Alexander said softly as he pulled back just enough to look at him.
Boaz searched his face, like he needed to be sure he was really there. Then, without thinking, he closed the distance and kissed him.
“Damn… I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” Boaz said, clinging to him. “I love you so much.”
Before Alexander could say anything, Michael chose that moment to wake up in his crib and cry his lungs out.
“What the hell is that?” Alexander asked, turning toward the sound.
“It’s our son,” Boaz said. He walked to the crib beside the bed and carefully picked him up. Michael fussed for a moment before settling against his chest.
“He’s mine?” Alexander asked, stunned. His gaze flicked between Michael and Boaz. “How did we make a baby?”
“Remember the night you dragged me to a room that belonged to a fairy couple?” Boaz began.
Alexander’s eyes widened.
“Yes. We stole their baby making blanket thing.”
He stepped closer, still looking like he was trying to piece it all together, his brows furrowed in confusion and disbelief.
Boaz shifted Michael slightly in his arms. “Do you want to hold him?”
“Yes,” Alexander said, tears shining in his eyes.
Boaz carefully handed the baby over and watched as Alexander settled Michael against his chest with surprising ease, holding him like he had been doing it his whole life.
“I finally have everything I’ve ever wanted,” Alexander said softly.
“Me too,” Boaz replied, leaning in for a kiss.