Chapter 4 - Jack

The sound of Fiona’s crying is like nails on a chalkboard. Each wail ratchets up my anxiety a notch higher. I’m standing in the middle of the room I’ve made into her nursery, frozen like some idiot who just got handed a live grenade and was told to defuse it with no instructions. Fiona’s little face is red, tears are streaking down her cheeks, and all I can think is, how the hell do people make this look so easy?

“Hey, sweetheart, it’s okay,” I tell her, though my voice comes out shakier than I’d like. I bounce her gently, the way I’ve seen in movies, but her cries just get louder, more frantic, like she knows I have no clue what I’m doing. I can feel the panic rising in my chest, hot and sharp, threatening to spill over. What if I can’t do this? What if I screw up so badly that—

“Move,” Sonya’s voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts, and before I know it, she’s right there, reaching for Fiona with a confidence that can’t be faked.

I step aside, too relieved to argue, and watch as she scoops Fiona up, her movements smooth and sure. She cradles her close, swaying gently as she hums a soft tune I don’t recognize. Within seconds, Fiona’s cries start to quiet, and her little fists unclench as she snuggles into her chest.

“There we go,” Sonya murmurs. Her voice is so soothing, like she’s done this a thousand times. She glances up at me with one eyebrow raised. “First rule of calming a baby: don’t look like you’re about to lose it yourself. They can sense your fear. Especially shifter cubs.”

“Yeah, thanks for that,” I mutter, rubbing the back of my neck. It’s embarrassing how quickly she stepped in and took control, like she was waiting for me to fall apart. And maybe I was.

Sonya gives Fiona a little pat on the back, and she sighs as her tiny body goes limp against her. Sonya looks down at her with a soft smile tugging at her lips, and I’m hit with a strange mix of relief and something else I can’t quite name. Gratitude, maybe. Or awe.

“You’ve got a knack for this,” I say, crossing my arms as I lean against the doorframe. “Seriously. It’s like you’ve got some kind of magic touch.”

Sonya snorts, rolling her eyes. “It’s not magic, Jack. It’s called paying attention. Babies are pretty easy to read if you’re not caught up in your own head.”

“Right,” I reply, but my gaze lingers on her a moment longer. The way she moves, the quiet confidence, it’s… impressive. And infuriating, because it makes me feel like an idiot by comparison.

She settles Fiona into the crib, making sure she’s comfortable before turning back to me with her hands on her hips. “So, what’s the plan here, Jack? You can’t just keep winging it and hoping for the best. This kid needs more than a clueless dad.”

I nod, feeling the weight of her words settle in. “I know. That’s why I put out that job posting for a nanny. I need help.”

Her expression shifts to something more guarded. “You need a lot more than just help. You need to step up, Jack. You can’t keep pretending this is just another one of your screw-ups that’ll fix itself if you ignore it long enough.”

I flinch at the bluntness of her words, but can’t argue with them. “That’s why I want to hire you. You’re good at this, Sonya. I’m not. And Fiona deserves someone who knows what they’re doing.”

She shakes her head, folding her arms over her chest. “I don’t have the bandwidth to help you figure out basic parenthood, Jack. I’ve got my own life to sort out.”

“Yeah, and that’s not going so great, is it?” I counter, regretting it the second the words leave my mouth.

Her eyes narrow, and I can tell I’ve crossed a line.

“I mean—”

“You don’t get to comment on my life,” she snaps, her voice edged with steel. “I’m here because I couldn’t stand listening to a baby cry, not because I have no other offers on the table.”

“Look, I’m sorry,” I say quickly, holding up my hands in surrender. “I’m just saying this could be a good deal for both of us. You need a job, and I need help. Win-win.”

Sonya glances back at Fiona, then at me, and the muscles in her face soften just a fraction. “Jack, you’re not exactly the most reliable person I know. Why should I believe this won’t just be another thing you bail on when it gets hard? I don’t want to get attached to this baby just for you to pawn her off somewhere.”

I feel a stab of guilt at her words, because she’s not wrong. I’ve bailed on plenty of things—jobs, relationships, responsibilities—but this is different. This is Fiona.

I look at her, peaceful now in her crib that I managed to put together in record time, and feel that same pull I did when I first saw her on my doorstep. This tiny person is completely dependent on me, and suddenly, screwing up doesn’t feel like an option anymore.

“I’m not going to bail,” I insist, and for once, I mean it. “I know I’m not perfect. Hell, aside from carrying sperm, I’m not even qualified to be a dad. But I’m trying. And I need you to help me get it right.”

Sonya watches me, her grey eyes searching mine like she’s trying to find the truth buried somewhere in all the promises I’ve made. Finally, she sighs, and her posture relaxes a little. “All right. I’ll consider it. But if I do this, I’m doing it on my terms.”

“Of course,” I say quickly, eager not to lose the tenuous thread of her agreement. “Whatever you want. Good pay, reasonable hours, no more—”

She cuts me off with a raised hand. “No more crap, Jack. No games, no teasing, and definitely no dragging me into your messes outside of Fiona. This is about her, not you.”

“Deal,” I say without hesitation. It’s a fair trade, and honestly, it’s the least I can do. “And you can set your own hours, whatever works,” I add. “Just… please. I need you.”

She studies me for another long moment, then nods. “All right. I’ll give it a shot. But I’m serious, Jack. If you start pulling your usual crap, I’m out.”

“You won’t have to worry about that. I promise. And thank you, Sonya. Really.”

She shrugs, but there’s a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth. “Don’t thank me yet. We’ll see if you can actually stick to your word.”

“I will,” I reiterate, and for the first time in a long time, I actually believe it.

She turns her attention back to Fiona, adjusting her blanket with a gentleness that makes my chest tighten. Watching her with my daughter, I can almost picture it—this little makeshift family we’ve stumbled into. It’s not perfect, but maybe it doesn’t have to be. Maybe it just has to be enough.

“So, what do I call you now?” Sonya asks, breaking the silence. “Boss? Mr. Thomas? Jack feels too informal.”

I chuckle, and the tension in the room eases a little. “How about we skip the titles? Just Jack and Sonya, trying not to screw this up.”

She nods, a real smile breaking through now. “I’ll try to wrap my head around that.”

We stand there for a moment, side by side, watching over Fiona as she sleeps. It’s a start, a shaky one, but it’s something. And for the first time since this whole mess began, I feel like Fiona and I might actually be okay.

There’s a part of me that still can’t believe she agreed to help, but then again, it makes sense. I don’t know Sonya all that well, but I do know she’s the maternal type. She’s always doling out advice and giving my packmates comfort when they need it. She’s good at this—way better than I’ll ever be.

“Just keep her calm for a bit,” I tell her, grabbing my jacket off the back of a chair. “Formula is on the counter, and diapers are… I don’t know, they’re around here somewhere. I’ve got to go handle something.”

Sonya raises an eyebrow. “Handle what? And for how long?”

“Shouldn’t be more than an hour,” I explain, trying to sound casual even though my nerves are jangling like live wires. “Just gotta sort out some pack stuff. Reiner and Alpha Evan need to know what’s going on.”

“You’re going to tell Reiner about Fiona?”

“Yeah,” I say, shrugging like it’s no big deal, though the thought of explaining this whole mess makes my stomach twist. “He’s family. And he’ll probably have some ideas about… you know, how to make this work. Besides, he’ll find out soon enough once your cousin tells him you’re my new nanny, right?”

She nods, but I can see the skepticism in her eyes. “He’s going to be shocked as hell.”

“No doubt,” I agree, giving her a quick, appreciative smile. “Thanks again, Sonya. Seriously.”

She rolls her eyes, but there’s a flicker of a smile on her lips. “Go on, then. We’ll be fine. I’ll find the diapers.”

I leave the house, feeling the weight of the situation settle back on my shoulders. Reiner’s going to give me hell for this, no doubt. He’s been on my case about growing up for years, and the news about a surprise baby is like handing him a golden ticket to say, “I told you so.” But it has to be done. I can’t just wing this on my own.

When I reach Reiner’s place, I don’t bother knocking. He’s sprawled on the couch, flipping through some old hunting magazine like it’s the most riveting thing in the world. His head snaps up when he sees me, his brows furrowing in that disapproving way he’s perfected over the years.

“Jack,” he says, setting the magazine aside. “You look like hell. What’s going on?”

I run a hand through my hair, debating the best way to drop this bomb. “I need your help. With something… big.”

Reiner eyes me, suspicion clouding his face. “What kind of ‘big,’ Jack? Last time you said that, it involved a totaled truck and a weekend in county jail.”

“Not that kind of big,” I say quickly, though it’s hard to argue that this isn’t just as messy. “It’s… it’s a kid, Reiner. My kid.”

Reiner’s eyes widen, and he lets out a low whistle. “You’ve got to be kidding me. A kid? Since when?”

“Since yesterday morning,” I reply, the words tumbling out in a rush. “Remember Casey? Well, she dropped the baby off at my place and bailed. Her name’s Fiona, and I’ve got no idea what the hell I’m doing.”

Reiner stands up, crossing the room in two quick strides. “Casey? That fling from last year? You didn’t even know about the baby?”

“Not a clue,” I confirm, shaking my head. “I just… opened my door, and there she was. And now I’m stuck trying to figure this out.”

Reiner stares at me, his expression somewhere between shock and exasperation. “Jack, this isn’t just a ‘figure it out’ situation. This is your kid. You can’t treat this like another one of your screw-ups.”

“I know that,” I snap, feeling the familiar sting of Reiner’s disapproval. “That’s why I’m here. I need to talk to Alpha Evan. I can’t be running missions with a baby at home.”

Reiner rubs his jaw, considering this for a moment. “You sure about that? Because Evan’s not going to go easy on you, Jack. You can’t just back out of pack duties because you’ve suddenly got responsibilities.”

“It’s not about backing out. It’s about doing what’s right for Fiona. She didn’t ask for this, and I can’t just leave her hanging.”

“All right,” Reiner concedes. “Let’s go see Evan.”

We head over to the alpha’s house, and the familiar path that usually feels routine now seems heavy with the weight of what’s to come. Alpha Evan’s already in the yard when we arrive, tossing a ball with his son, who’s all energy and laughter. The sight tugs at something inside me. It’s a reminder of what a real family looks like. Stable. Strong.

Everything I’m not.

Evan catches sight of us and waves, his easy smile faltering when he sees the look on my face. “Jack. Reiner. What’s up?”

“Need a minute of your time, Alpha,” I begin. “It’s… important.”

Evan nods, handing the ball to his boy with a quick pat on the shoulder. “Go on inside, bud. I’ll be in soon.”

The young shifter bounds off, and Evan turns his full attention to us. “All right, what’s going on?”

I take a breath, bracing myself. “I’ve got a kid, Evan. A daughter. Her name’s Fiona, and I didn’t know about her until yesterday. Her mom took off, left her on my doorstep.”

Evan’s eyes widen, and for a moment, he just stares at me like he’s trying to figure out if I’m serious. Then his expression shifts to something that looks like sympathy.

“That’s… that’s a lot, Jack.”

“Yeah,” I agree, rubbing the back of my neck. “I’m trying to do the right thing here. I’ve hired a nanny to help out, but I can’t be running missions right now. I need to be here, in town, figuring out how to be a dad.”

To my utter shock, Evan nods emphatically. “You’re stepping up, and I respect that. But you know I can’t just pull you off missions without a replacement. The pack relies on you.”

“I know,” I reply. “I’m not asking for special treatment. I just need time to get my bearings. I’ll take in-town missions. Anything that lets me be around for Fiona.”

“Jack’s serious, Evan,” Reiner chimes in. “He’s not bailing. He’s just trying to be there for his daughter.”

Evan considers this, his expression shifting as he weighs the options. “All right, Jack. I’ll pull you from the border runs for now. I’ll have you work in town, closer to home. Maybe here at the compound. I’m sure we can find you something. But you’ve got to keep pulling your weight. This isn’t a free pass.”

“Got it,” I say, relief flooding through me. “Thank you, Alpha.”

Evan nods, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “This is a big step, Jack. I’m proud of you for facing it head-on. But remember, being a dad isn’t just about showing up. It’s about sticking around when things get tough.”

“I will,” I promise, to myself as much as to him and Fiona.

As I turn to leave, Reiner catches my eye, and there’s a rare smile tugging at his lips. “Looks like you’re finally getting your act together, Jack.”

“Don’t get used to it,” I joke, but there’s a flicker of hope beneath my words. Maybe I really can do this. Maybe, with a little help, I can be the dad Fiona needs me to be.