“What are you smiling about?” Hansel asked as he handed Boaz the box.
Boaz grunted as he carried it to the waiting van, then came back for the next one, ignoring the question. It didn’t even bother him. He was too happy to care.
“You’ve been smiling for no reason for days now. You’re freaking me out,” Hansel added.
When Boaz turned back for another box, he found Hansel still watching him, frowning like he genuinely didn’t understand what was going on.
“Hand over the box,” Boaz said.
Hansel didn’t move. Boaz just took it from him and placed it in the van himself.
He slammed the van door shut and stepped back, wiping sweat from his brow.
“That’s the last of it,” he said. “Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?”
“You’ve changed,” Hansel said, not answering his question.
“I haven’t changed.”
“You have. Since the fair you’ve been… happy,” Hansel said, his lips curling slightly in disgust. “And I know it’s not because of Lyla, since she asked me for a ride. She’s moving back to her own pack.”
“Is the problem that I’m happy or that Lyla is leaving?”
“If she leaves, she’ll never come back, man. Is that what you want? You haven’t even tried to talk to her.”
Boaz clenched his jaw, trying to keep his temper in check.
Alexander was right. Hansel was trying to control his life.
“Lyla and I talked,” Boaz said. “And guess what, Hansel, you’re the one missing the point. You need to stop trying to tell me how to live my life and start focusing on yours.”
He turned to leave the packing room, but Hansel grabbed his arm to stop him.
“What are you talking about?” he asked.
“She’s in love with you. You,” Boaz said, wrenching his arm out of Hansel’s grip. “If you weren’t so focused on controlling every little thing in my life, you would’ve noticed that.”
“I did,” Hansel said, shaking his head. “I thought you needed her more than I did.”
“That’s even worse, Hansel,” Boaz said. “I’m not a case you need to solve. I can find my own mate. I don’t need you sacrificing your happiness for me.”
“So it’s alright for you to sacrifice your happiness, but not me?” Hansel snapped. “Even though you’re not the alpha, you’ve carried this pack on your back. You’ve made huge sacrifices that drained you. But I can’t do a small thing for you?”
“I never asked you to do that.”
“Yeah, of course. Excuse me for trying to help,” Hansel said, turning away. “I won’t meddle in your life ever again.”
He walked to the van. “I should get going. The tea won’t deliver itself.”
Hansel opened the door and climbed inside, then rolled the window down as he adjusted the mirrors.
“Hansel, I didn’t mean it like that,” Boaz said, stepping closer to the car. “Come on. Don’t leave like this.”
“Be happy, Boaz. That’s all I ever wanted,” Hansel said, starting the engine. “All you had to do was tell me you weren’t interested in Lyla anymore. I wouldn’t have pushed.”
He paused for a moment, then backed out of the building.
“Fuck,” Boaz groaned, staring at the empty space where the van had been. He couldn’t believe how badly he’d messed that up. Things were always simpler when he kept to himself, spending most of his time in the meadow.