Chapter 3 - Sonya

The coffee shop is buzzing with the kind of energy that only desperation can fuel. I’m at a corner table, hunched over my laptop with job listings blurring in front of me. My eyes ache from staring at the screen, but I keep scrolling, hoping for some miracle that isn’t buried under minimum wage and dead-end hours. It’s not like Green Lake is overflowing with opportunities, especially not for someone like me who’s apparently “difficult” to work with.

I’m trying to keep my frustration in check, but it’s hard when it feels like the whole town is conspiring to keep me stuck. Betsy’s gossip travels fast, and everyone seems to know that I got fired for standing up to Jack’s jerk of a friend, Tanner. Now, no one wants to hire the girl who made a scene. Perfect.

The bell over the door chimes, and I glance up to see Jane and Reiner walking in, hand in hand like the perfect picture of mated bliss. Jane spots me immediately and waves.

For a second, I consider ducking out before they reach my table, but there’s no escaping them now.

“Sonya!” Jane calls out, making a beeline for my corner. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“Didn’t realize I was hiding,” I say, trying for a light tone as I shut my laptop. “What’s up?”

Jane pulls out the chair across from me and sits down with a soft thud. “Just wanted to see how you’re doing. We know you’re having a hard time.”

“Not having a hard time,” I correct, but my voice wavers. “Just… figuring things out.”

Reiner stands behind Jane with his arms crossed over his chest, and I can feel the weight of his gaze. He’s got that look on his face—the one that says he’s about to offer advice, whether I want it or not.

“You know, you could always take some time to relax,” he suggests. “No need to rush into something new.”

“Relax?” I let out a short, bitter laugh. “I’ve got bills piling up. I can’t afford to relax.”

Jane’s eyes soften, and she reaches across the table to squeeze my hand. “We’ve got a spare room. You know you’re welcome to stay with us until you get back on your feet.”

I pull my hand back gently, offering her a small smile to soften the rejection. “Thanks, but I’m not looking for a handout. I’ve got a plan, I just need… time.”

Jane frowns and knits her brows together like she’s trying to solve a puzzle. “Sonya, we’re family. You don’t have to do this alone.”

“Yeah, but I’m also an adult,” I remind her, though my voice lacks the conviction I’m aiming for. “I need to stand on my own two feet. Besides, I’m not going to crash your newly mated bliss with my drama. You’ve got enough to worry about without adding me to the mix.”

Reiner clears his throat, pulling up a chair next to Jane and leaning in. “It’s not drama, Sonya. It’s life. And you’re part of our lives. We want to help.”

I can feel my patience thinning, like a rubber band stretched to its limit. “I appreciate it, really, but I’m not moving in with you. I’ve already got enough people thinking I can’t handle myself. I don’t need to add more fuel to that fire.”

Jane opens her mouth to argue, but Reiner gives her a gentle nudge. “She’ll figure it out, Janey. Just give her some space.”

Jane sighs, nodding reluctantly as she leans back in her chair. “Okay, but if you need anything, you know where we are.”

“I know,” I tell her, glancing down at my laptop and the endless sea of rejection emails. “I just need a chance. A decent job that doesn’t come with strings attached or gossip from half the town.”

Reiner nods thoughtfully, his gaze flicking between me and Jane. “Well, have you considered doing something with kids? You’ve always been great with them. Could be worth looking into.”

I hesitate, chewing on my lower lip. “I’d love to, but every time I even mention wanting to work with kids, people look at me like I’m out of my mind. Like they can’t picture someone like me in a classroom. Shifters aren’t exactly welcomed with open arms.”

Jane’s expression softens, and she reaches over to brush a strand of hair behind my ear. “Sonya, you’d make an amazing teacher. Don’t let a few closed-minded people make you doubt that.”

“It’s more than a few,” I mutter, crossing my arms over my chest. “And it’s not just about teaching. It’s about proving I’m more than what people think they know about me. I want to build something for myself, you know?”

Jane nods, and Reiner lets out a slow, understanding breath. “We get it,” Jane says. “And if anyone’s stubborn enough to do it, it’s you. Just don’t shut us out while you’re at it.”

“I’m not shutting you out,” I insist, though the words feel thin and insubstantial. “I just… I need to figure this out on my own terms.”

Jane squeezes my hand again before she says, “Okay. But promise me you won’t be too proud to ask for help if you need it.”

I manage a small smile, though it feels more like a grimace. “I promise. But right now, I’ve got to keep looking. This dream job isn’t going to land in my lap without some effort.”

Reiner leans back in his chair, watching me closely. “Well, if you’re serious about teaching, there are some programs that help with certifications. You could look into that while you’re job hunting.”

“Yeah, I’ve thought about it,” I admit. “But it’s tough when every paycheck is already stretched thin. I’m trying to make it work, though.”

Jane brightens a little, her optimism bubbling to the surface. “And you will. I know it. You’ve always been resourceful, Sonya. You’ll find a way.”

“Thanks,” I say, trying to keep the doubt from creeping into my voice. It’s nice to hear, but it doesn’t make the reality any easier. “But right now, I just need to get through today. One step at a time.”

Reiner nods, standing and pulling Jane up with him. “We’ll leave you to it, then. But seriously, if you need anything—”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” I cut in with a wry smile. “I’ll holler.”

Jane gives me one last hug, and Reiner claps me on the shoulder before they head out, leaving me alone with my laptop and the never-ending stream of job listings. I watch them go with a combination of gratitude and frustration settling in my chest. I know they mean well, but I’ve got to do this on my own. I’ve got to prove to myself—and to everyone else—that I can make it work without leaning on anyone.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself as I dive back into the search. There’s got to be something out there that’s more than just a stopgap, more than just another gig to pay the bills. I’m not looking for easy; I’m looking for something that makes me feel like I’m building a future. And I’m not going to stop until I find it.

An hour later, I’ve scrolled through so many job listings that they’re all starting to blur together into one giant, soul-sucking pit of rejection. My eyes burn, and the coffee I’ve been nursing for the past hour has gone cold, but I keep clicking, keep searching, because what else can I do? Every job I find is either minimum wage, requires experience I don’t have, or just plain sucks. I’m starting to think the universe has it out for me.

I blow out a breath and close my laptop, pushing it away like it’s personally offended me. “This is pointless,” I mutter to myself, running a hand through my hair. “Maybe I should just take up knitting and sell scarves on Etsy.”

As if on cue, my phone buzzes with a notification. It’s a message from one of the community boards I’ve been keeping an eye on—half-heartedly, mostly—but at this point, I’m desperate enough to check anything that might lead to a paycheck.

Nanny Needed: Immediate Start

I blink at the screen, rereading the words like they might change if I stare long enough. It’s not exactly what I was hoping for—I was thinking more along the lines of a teaching assistant or maybe an office job at a preschool—but then again, beggars can’t be choosers. And it’s not like I haven’t babysat before.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I grab my bag and head out. The address for the interview isn’t far, just a couple of blocks from the coffee shop, and as I walk, I try to convince myself that this could be a good thing. Nannying is just a stepping stone, right? A way to make some cash until I can get one of those certifications Reiner was talking about. And if it means I get a little closer to my goal of becoming a teacher, then maybe it’s not the worst idea.

I turn the corner and spot the house, a modest little cabin with a neat front yard and a worn welcome mat on the porch. I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the nerves that have inexplicably decided to show up. It’s just a job inquiry, I remind myself. No big deal.

But the moment I knock on the door, it swings open almost immediately, like whoever’s inside was waiting. And standing there, looking like he just rolled out of bed and forgot how buttons work, is Jack Thomas.

Why the hell does he need a nanny? I didn’t even know he had a kid.

“You have got to be kidding me,” I blurt out before I can stop myself. Because of course it’s Jack. Of all the houses in Green Lake, of all the people who might need a nanny, it has to be him.

Jack’s face lights up with a lazy grin, the kind that says he’s already got a dozen smartass remarks lined up and ready to go. “Well, well, well,” he drawls, leaning against the doorframe like he’s auditioning for some soap opera. “Sonya Welsh, darkening my doorstep. To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”

I cross my arms, trying to ignore the way his gaze slides over me, half-amused, half-assessing. “Trust me, the pleasure’s all yours,” I snap. “I saw the post for a nanny job. I didn’t realize it was yours. I’ll be on my way.”

I spin on my heel, ready to leave and forget this ever happened, but Jack comes around me, blocking my path with that infuriating, effortless charm of his. “Whoa, hold up. You came all this way just to run off again? What happened to that tenacity I keep hearing about?”

I glare at him, but he just grins wider. “I’m not interested in playing games, Jack. I need a job, not whatever sick fantasy this is.”

He tilts his head, feigning innocence. “Oh, I don’t know. You seemed pretty game for a challenge the other night at the bar.”

I open my mouth to retort, but I’m cut off by the sound of a baby’s cry from somewhere inside the house. Jack flinches, and for the first time, I see a flicker of something that looks a lot like panic cross his face.

Holy shit. There really is a kid. And judging by the look on Jack’s face, he’s clearly in over his head. And as much as I want to be irritated, I can’t help the tiny sliver of sympathy that slips in.

Jack runs a hand through his short brown hair, looking over his shoulder toward the sound. “Uh, yeah, that’s Fiona,” he says, almost sheepishly. “Apparently, I have a daughter. Who knew, right? I was, uh, hoping to find someone who actually knows what they’re doing.”

“Clearly,” I mutter under my breath, but he hears me, and the corner of his mouth twitches.

“I’m serious,” he says, his voice dropping the teasing lilt. “I’m not cut out for this. I didn’t even know she existed until yesterday morning.”

I raise an eyebrow, and the pieces start to click together in my mind. “So, this is your kid? And you just… found out?”

Jack nods, looking for all the world like a deer in headlights. “Pretty much. Her mom bailed and left her with me. I’ve got no idea what I’m doing, Sonya. I don’t suppose you know anything about cubs?”

The vulnerability in his voice takes me by surprise, and for a second, I almost feel bad for him. Almost. But then I remember the bar, and Tanner, and how Jack stood by and let it all unfold. My sympathy only goes so far.

“I’m not your fixer,” I tell him, taking a step back. “You don’t get to just snap your fingers and expect me to come running because you suddenly have a crisis.”

“I’m not asking you to fix anything,” Jack counters, his voice edged with frustration. “I just… look, you’re good with kids, right? I’ve seen you with the pack’s pups around town. I’m asking you to help me figure this out, just for a little while.”

I hesitate, caught between the urge to walk away and the nagging sense of responsibility that won’t let me ignore a crying baby. Jack’s staring at me, and his usual cockiness is dimmed under the weight of real fear. I hate that I’m even considering this.

“You’re really that desperate, huh?” I ask, folding my arms tighter around myself.

Jack nods. “Yeah. I really am.”

Another cry echoes from the back of the house, this time louder and more urgent. I see Jack’s shoulders tense, and for a moment, he looks like he might crumble right there on the doorstep.

“Fine,” I snap, pushing past him and into the house before I can change my mind. “But this doesn’t mean I’m taking the job. I just can’t stand out here and listen to that poor baby crying.”

Jack follows behind me, his steps quick and hopeful. “You’re a lifesaver, Sonya. Seriously.”

“Save it,” I bite out, but I can’t help glancing back at him. He looks relieved, like he’s just been thrown a lifeline, and it makes me wonder what kind of mess he’s really in.