Chapter 24 - Jack

Casey’s laugh echoes through the house, a high, tinkling sound that’s too sweet for the bitterness it stirs in me. She’s on the floor with Fiona with her face lit up like she’s finally found some damn purpose in life. Fiona’s squealing, her chubby hands reaching for the toy Casey’s dangling in front of her. Casey’s presence here—safe and sound after her mess with the rogues—should be a good thing. But all I can think about is the day she left Fiona on my porch, a crying infant swaddled in blankets, abandoned without a word.

I want to be relieved that Casey’s all right, that Fiona’s finally got her mom back, but the truth is, I’m hesitant. I can’t shake the memory of that morning, the anger and confusion that tore through me as I found Fiona there, alone and helpless. Casey didn’t just walk away from Fiona; she dumped her on me like a burden she couldn’t carry. And now, watching her try to play Mother of the Year feels like a betrayal all over again.

I smile when Casey glances up at me, but it’s tight, strained at the edges. She’s doing her best, I guess. Trying to make amends or whatever. But every time I see her holding Fiona, all I can think about is how easy it was for her to leave in the first place. The woman who ran off to enjoy her freedom without a second thought is suddenly back playing house, and I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel about that.

Fiona giggles, and Casey scoops her up, spinning her around until they’re both dizzy and laughing. I rub the back of my neck, trying to untangle the mess in my head, but the sound of Fiona’s joy only deepens the pit in my stomach. This is what she’s needed all along—her mom—and I should be glad. But instead, I’m thinking about Sonya. How she’s been avoiding the house like it’s on fire, leaving me alone to navigate this weird new reality.

I found out from Reiner that Sonya’s been out on a shifter run with the others. She’s been ducking out more and more lately, slipping away with the pack, finding excuses not to be around. It grates on me, this distance between us. It’s like she’s pulling away just when I need her close. Worry gnaws at me, but there’s something else, too. Something sharper, a need that I can’t seem to quash no matter how hard I try.

I miss her. I miss her like hell.

“Hey, Casey,” I say, forcing my tone to stay light as I grab my jacket from the hook by the door. “I’ve got to go check on something. You good here with Fiona?”

Casey looks up, her smile faltering slightly, but she nods. “Yeah, we’re good. Go do what you need to.”

I nod, but there’s no comfort in leaving her with Fiona. I’m halfway out the door before I second-guess it, but I push forward. I have to find Sonya. I need to see her, to understand why she’s pulling away when we were just starting to get somewhere.

The wind bites at my skin as I follow her scent through the woods, my thoughts tangled and restless. I pick up the pace, my breath coming in short bursts as I navigate the familiar trails. Sonya’s scent grows stronger, mingled with the crispness of pine and earth, until I finally spot her ahead, crouched by a stream. She’s alone, thank God. No one else to witness me coming undone.

“Sonya,” I call out, and she starts, spinning around to face me. The tension between us is immediate, palpable, and it only makes the knot in my chest tighten.

“What are you doing out here?” she asks, her voice edged with annoyance. “I’m just trying to clear my head.”

“I could ask you the same thing. You’ve been avoiding me, avoiding Fiona. What the hell’s going on?”

Her eyes narrow, and she straightens up, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m not avoiding you, Jack. I’m just… I’m trying to give you space. You’ve got a lot going on with Casey, and I don’t want to get in the way.”

“Get in the way?” I repeat, incredulous. “Sonya, you’re not in the way. You’re the one who’s been here, the one who’s helped me with Fiona, who’s kept me sane through all of this. Casey showing up doesn’t change that.”

Sonya shakes her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. “Doesn’t it? She’s Fiona’s mother, Jack. She’s back, and you two can finally be a family. I’m just… I’m just the nanny, right?”

Her words cut through me, and I take a step forward, my hand reaching for hers before I even think about it. “You’re not just anything, Sonya. You’re everything. And I miss you. Fiona misses you. It’s like you’re disappearing right when we need you the most.”

She meets my gaze, her expression softening for a moment before she looks away, her shoulders sagging. “I don’t know where I fit in anymore, Jack. Not with Casey back. She’s got history with you. She’s—”

“I don’t care about the history,” I snap. I pull her closer, gripping her arms. “What I care about is right now. You, me, Fiona. I don’t want to lose what we have because of some misplaced sense of where you think you belong.”

Sonya’s breath hitches, and she stares at me, wide-eyed and uncertain. For a second, neither of us moves, the tension stretching between us like a live wire ready to snap. Then, without thinking, I close the distance, crashing my lips against hers with a desperation I can’t hold back. She stiffens for a heartbeat, but then she’s kissing me back, her hands tangling in my hair, pulling me closer like she’s been waiting for this as long as I have.

Our bodies collide, her curves molding to me like we were made for each other, and it feels so fucking right, I can hardly breathe. She tastes like summer and home, and I can already feel myself falling deeper, a need rising inside me that I can’t control.

I back her up to the trunk of a nearby oak tree, pinning her against it. Her head falls back, exposing the soft, pale skin of her neck. I kiss and bite a trail down the column of her throat, relishing the taste of her, the feel of her pressed against me. Her breathing is ragged, her pulse racing under my tongue, and it only fuels the hunger inside me, the raw desire reserved only for her.

We tear at each other’s clothes, desperate to feel skin against skin, and I groan as her breasts are freed and her nipples harden in the cool air. I take one in my mouth, sucking and teasing it with my teeth, and she gasps, arching into me, her fingers digging into my shoulders.

My cock is rock-hard and straining against my jeans, aching to be inside her. I reach down and pop the button, sliding the zipper down, and she pushes them off my hips, freeing my length. I kick my jeans and boxers aside, then rip her shorts and panties down her legs. Her pussy is glistening and wet, and my mouth goes dry.

Sonya reaches between us, gripping my shaft, and I hiss as she strokes me, her palm dragging over the sensitive tip. She lowers herself to the ground, taking my cock into her mouth, and I groan, my knees nearly buckling at the warm, wet heat. She bobs her head, swirling her tongue around the head, and the sight of her lips stretched around me nearly has me spilling into her mouth.

I can feel the orgasm building, coiling inside me, but I don’t want to come like this. I need to be inside her, feel her walls clenching around me, watch her fall apart with my name on her lips.

I gently push her away, and she looks up at me, her lips swollen and red.

“Get on your hands and knees,” I growl, and her eyes darken with desire. She complies, scrambling to position herself in front of me, her ass raised high in the air. I kneel behind her, running my hand over her smooth skin, then dip my fingers between her thighs.

She’s dripping wet, her juices coating my hand as I rub her clit, and she moans, pushing back against my fingers. I tease her opening, slipping one finger inside, then another, and she writhes, panting, as I stroke her from within. She’s so tight and warm, just like I remember, and my cock throbs, aching to replace my fingers.

This is my mate, I realize with a jolt. My true mate, and no one else’s. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her.

I pull my fingers out, licking her sweet honey from them, and then grip her hips, lining my throbbing cock up with her entrance. She gasps as I push inside, burying myself to the hilt, and I grunt, the feel of her nearly overwhelming. I pause, savoring the feel of her wrapped around me, then begin to thrust, slowly at first, then picking up the pace.

She moans, her body rocking back to meet mine, and her walls flutter around my cock. I reach down, gripping her hair and pulling her head back as I fuck her, the sound of our bodies slapping together echoing through the clearing. She’s wild and unrestrained, pushing back against me, meeting every thrust. It’s animalistic and primal, the two of us moving together, lost in the pleasure.

As I feel her orgasm approaching, I let go of her hair and bend over her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her against me. I reach between her legs, stroking her clit, and she shatters, her body convulsing as the orgasm tears through her. I bury my face in her neck, inhaling her scent, and the feel of her pussy clenching around me sets off my own release.

But before I can come, Sonya twists in my arms, pushing me onto my back and straddling me. Her lips crash against mine, hungry and desperate, and she rocks her hips, grinding against me. My cock is still hard, still buried deep inside her, and I groan, wrapping my arms around her as she rides me.

She’s beautiful, her head thrown back and her eyes closed, her breasts bouncing as she moves. I lean forward, capturing one of her nipples in my mouth, and she cries out, her movements growing more frantic. The feel of her, the smell of her, is intoxicating, and I can’t get enough.

I grip her hips, guiding her movements, and she grinds down on me, taking my cock even deeper. The pressure is building, coiling inside me, and the image of her tits bouncing above me, the feel of her walls clenching around my cock, is too much. I explode, pleasure rippling through me, and I’m dimly aware of Sonya tipping over the edge with me again, her body shuddering and her walls fluttering around me.

We collapse, a tangle of limbs, our hearts hammering against each other’s chests, and I’ve never felt so alive, so complete. Sonya is everything I never knew I needed, and now that I’ve found her, I’m never letting go.

Sonya and I finally break apart, breathless and a little stunned by the intensity of what just happened. The forest around us feels different now, quieter somehow, like it’s holding its breath. My heart is still racing as I run my thumb over Sonya’s flushed cheek.

But before I can say anything, before we can even begin to make sense of the mess we’re in, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out reluctantly, frowning when I see Casey’s name flashing on the screen.

“Hello?”

“Jack, I—I’m having trouble with Fiona. She won’t stop crying, and I don’t know what to do.” Casey’s voice is edged with panic, and I can hear Fiona’s wails in the background.

I exchange a look with Sonya, who nods, already starting to get dressed. “We’ll be right there,” I tell Casey, hanging up before I start yanking my clothes on.

We hurry back to the house, and as we step inside, the familiar warmth of the home is immediately punctuated by the sharp sound of Fiona’s distress. Casey is pacing in the living room, her movements frantic as she tries to soothe Fiona, but it’s clear she’s overwhelmed.

“Jack, thank God you’re back,” Casey says breathlessly. “I’ve tried everything, but she just won’t calm down.”

Fiona’s cries grow more insistent, and Casey’s attempts to comfort her only seem to amplify her distress. She bounces Fiona gently, but there’s a nervousness in her actions, like she’s unsure of herself.

Sonya steps forward, reaching for Fiona. “Here, let me try,” she offers. Casey hesitates for a moment but then hands Fiona over, her shoulders slumping as if relieved to have the weight lifted, even if just for a moment.

Sonya takes Fiona into her arms, rocking her gently and murmuring soft words. Almost instantly, Fiona begins to settle, her cries fading into quiet whimpers. Casey watches with a mixture of awe and something else. Maybe frustration or regret.

“Thank you,” Casey says, though there’s an edge to her voice that makes it clear she’s not entirely comfortable. Sonya just nods, carrying Fiona into the bedroom to give her some space to calm down completely.

As the door clicks shut behind Sonya and Fiona, I turn back to Casey. She’s still standing there, looking a bit lost. I take a step closer, ready to talk about everything we need to sort through, but Casey’s eyes meet mine with a glimmer of something I can’t quite place.

“Jack,” she starts, “I know I messed up. I know I’ve made things difficult, but I’m here now. And seeing you with Fiona, how good you are with her… it just makes me think that maybe we can make this work.” She steps closer, her hand reaching out to rest lightly on my arm.

I open my mouth to respond, to tell her that things aren’t as simple as just picking up where we left off, but before I can get the words out, Casey leans in. She presses a kiss to my cheek, lingering just long enough for it to mean something more than gratitude.