Chapter 21 - Sonya
Piper’s place is nestled near the center of the Green Lake compound. It’s a cozy, rustic cabin that looks like it was plucked straight out of a fairy tale. I’ve been here a few times, usually just to catch up or let Fiona play while Piper and I chat about everything and nothing. But today feels different. Today, I’m excited, almost giddy, because Piper told me she’s got visitors—familiar faces from Stardust Hollow who I haven’t seen in what feels like forever.
As I step out of the car, I balance Fiona on my hip. The crisp air fills my lungs, carrying with it the scent of pine and the distant, comforting aroma of something baking in Piper’s oven. I can already hear the laughter coming from inside, and it tugs at something deep inside me—a sense of home. Green Lake has a way of wrapping around you, making you feel like you’ve always been a part of it, even if you’re just visiting.
I push the door open with my shoulder and step into the warmth of Piper’s cabin. The place is alive with chatter, the sound of voices overlapping in that easy, familiar way that only happens when you’re surrounded by people who know you well. Lenny and Riley, Piper’s brothers and Jane’s friends, are lounging on the couch, their broad shoulders taking up most of the space. They look up as I walk in, wearing identical grins.
“Well, look who finally decided to show up,” Lenny calls out, his voice booming across the room. “We were starting to think you forgot all about us, Sonya.”
I laugh, shifting Fiona to my other hip as I make my way over to them. “Forgot about you two? Not a chance. I’ve just been busy, you know, with this little one keeping me on my toes.” I tickle Fiona’s side, and she giggles. The sound is bright and pure, making everyone in the room smile.
Riley gets up from the couch, reaching out to take Fiona from me. “Come here, sweetheart,” he says, his voice gentle as he lifts her into the air, spinning her around. Fiona squeals in delight, and I can’t help but smile as I watch her face light up. “I’ve heard all about you, little one,” Riley adds. “Pretty soon, you’ll be running around causing all sorts of trouble.”
“She’s already trying,” I reply, settling into the armchair across from them. “I can barely keep up with her sometimes.”
Piper appears from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. “You’re just in time, Sonya. I made that apple pie you love, and it should be ready any minute now.” She flashes me a grin before turning her attention to her brothers. “You two better save some room. Sonya’s been dreaming about this pie since last fall.”
Lenny chuckles, giving me a wink. “Don’t worry, we’ll leave her a slice. Maybe.”
I roll my eyes, but there’s a warmth in my chest that I haven’t felt in a while. It’s good to be around people from home, people who know where I come from, who’ve been part of my life for as long as I can remember. For a moment, it feels like I never left Stardust Hollow, like I’m just catching up with old friends who’ve come to visit. But as the conversation continues, something shifts.
“So,” Riley starts, his tone a bit more serious as he hands Fiona back to me, “Ram’s been asking about you.”
The mention of Ram, the alpha of Stardust Hollow, makes my heart skip a beat. It’s been a while since I’ve thought about him, or about Stardust Hollow, for that matter. I’ve been so wrapped up in Green Lake, in Jack and Fiona, that the life I left behind has become a distant memory. But now, with Riley’s comment, it’s like the past is catching up to me all at once.
“Oh,” I grumble, trying to keep my voice light, though the knot in my stomach tells me it’s not going to be that easy. “What’s he been asking?”
Lenny exchanges a glance with Riley before answering. “He’s wondering when you’re planning on coming back. You know how he is. He’s always had a soft spot for you. Ever since your dad passed away, he’s looked out for you like you were one of his own.. And you’ve been gone a while now.”
I bite my lip, my thoughts spinning. It’s true; I have been gone a while. He’d been there during the hardest moments, teaching me how to be strong, how to navigate the world without my dad. Even though he was the alpha, he always found time for me. The thought of him worrying about me twists something deep in my chest. He’s probably imagining the worst—that I’m in trouble or stuck in some bad situation and too proud to ask for help.
What started as a short escape to clear my head after everything that happened in Stardust Hollow has turned into something much more. I’ve built a life here in Green Lake, a life that feels good and right in ways I never expected. But the thought of returning to Stardust Hollow, of facing everything I left behind, sends a shiver down my spine.
“I haven’t really thought about it,” I admit. “Things have been… different here. I’ve been focusing on Fiona and… well, everything else.”
Piper, sensing the shift in the conversation, comes over to sit beside me. “You don’t have to make any decisions right now, Sonya. But Ram’s going to want to know what your plans are eventually.”
I nod, staring down at Fiona as she plays with a strand of my hair, completely oblivious to the turmoil brewing inside me. When I first came to Green Lake, I thought it was just a temporary stop, a place to hide out until I figured out my next move. But now, the thought of leaving feels wrong, like I’d be walking away from something important.
“How’s everyone back in Stardust Hollow?” I ask, trying to steer the conversation away from me, even if just for a moment.
“They’re good,” Riley says, leaning back on the couch. “Things have settled down a bit since… well, since you left. But it’s not the same without you there, you know?”
“Yeah,” Lenny adds, his tone a bit more playful. “You know Ram has a soft spot for you. He’s not going to be happy if you decide to stay away for good.”
I force a smile, but inside, I’m reeling. It’s one thing to have left Stardust Hollow, to have distanced myself from the people and the memories that haunted me. But it’s another thing entirely to think about going back, to face Ram and the pack, to pick up where I left off. And the truth is, I’m not sure I can.
Green Lake has become my home in ways I never expected. The people here, the life I’ve built—it’s all so different from Stardust Hollow, and yet it feels like I’ve found something I didn’t even know I was looking for. I glance over at Piper, who’s watching me with those knowing eyes, and I can see the understanding there. She gets it. She knows what it’s like to find yourself torn between two worlds, not quite sure where you belong.
“So, what are you going to do?” Piper asks softly.
I take a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. “I don’t know.” The words feel heavy as they leave my mouth. “I haven’t thought that far ahead.”
Lenny and Riley exchange another glance, this one more serious. “Well, whatever you decide, just know that we’re here for you,” Riley says. “And so is Ram. He just wants to know that you’re okay.”
I nod, but the weight of their words sits heavy on my shoulders. Stardust Hollow was my home for so long, the place where I grew up, where I thought I’d spend the rest of my life. But now, Green Lake has woven itself into my heart, and I can’t imagine walking away from it, from Jack and Fiona, from everything we’ve started to build together.
But the question that lingers in my mind, the one that keeps me awake at night, is whether or not I can have both. Can I find a way to make peace with my past while still holding on to the future I want here in Green Lake? Or will I be forced to choose between the two, leaving behind a part of myself no matter what I decide?
As I sit there, surrounded by friends who care about me, the reality of my situation begins to sink in. No matter what I choose, it’s not going to be easy. And I can’t keep putting off the decision, not if I want to find any sort of peace.
Piper reaches out, squeezing my hand gently. “Whatever happens, Sonya, we’ve got your back.”
Her words are a comfort, but they also remind me of the choice that’s looming over me. The choice between the life I left behind and the life I’m starting to build. And as much as I want to cling to the safety and familiarity of Stardust Hollow, I know deep down that Green Lake is where my heart is.
But making that choice… it feels like standing on the edge of a cliff, not sure if I’ll fall or fly.
Eventually, I’m going to have to choose. And I just hope that when the time comes, I’ll know what the right decision is.
A few hours later, I leave Piper’s cabin with Fiona in tow. As I drive back towards Jack’s house, the road stretches out before me, winding through the familiar trees of Green Lake, but my mind is miles away. The thought of Stardust Hollow, of Ram, of the life I’d almost forgotten, keeps circling back, wrapping tighter around my heart with every turn of the wheel.
When I finally pull up to Jack’s place, the sun is just starting to dip below the horizon, sending long shadows across the yard. The house looks quiet, like it’s holding its breath. Fiona is already dozing off in her car seat, her tiny breaths soft and even, and for a moment, I just sit there, staring at the front door, wondering how I’m going to bring any of this up with Jack.
I manage to get Fiona settled in her crib, and I find Jack sprawled out on the couch with his work clothes still on and the lines of exhaustion etched deep into his face. His eyes are half-closed, and he looks like he’s seconds away from drifting off completely.
For a second, I think about turning around and letting him sleep, pushing all this off until tomorrow, but I know I can’t. I need to talk to him now, before the weight of everything pulls me under.
“Hey,” I whisper, kneeling down beside him, my hand brushing lightly against his arm.
His eyes flutter open, and he gives me a tired smile, one that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Hey,” he replies. “How was your day?”
I take a seat on the edge of the couch, leaning into him. “It was… a lot. I went to see Piper and her brothers. They’re in town from Stardust Hollow.”
His brow furrows slightly, but he nods, waiting for me to continue. I can see the questions in his eyes, the concern, but he’s too tired to ask. I wish I could just spill everything, tell him about Ram, about how conflicted I feel, but the words stick in my throat. Instead, I rest my head on his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his body seep into mine.
“You look exhausted,” I murmur, tracing gentle circles on his arm. “You’ve been working so hard.”
He lets out a heavy sigh, his body sinking further into the cushions. “It’s been one of those days. Reiner and I had to redo a whole section of the framework because someone messed up the measurements. We were out there until almost dark trying to fix it.”
I nod, feeling the tension in his muscles beneath my touch. “I’m sorry. That sounds rough.”
He turns his head, pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head. “It’s okay. It’s part of the job. Just wish I could catch a break sometimes, you know?”
I pull back slightly, meeting his gaze. His eyes are heavy with weariness, and something tugs at my heart. He’s always so strong, always the one holding everything together, but tonight, he looks worn down, like he’s been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders for too long.
“Let’s just rest,” I suggest, pulling him back against the couch. “Let’s just… be here.”
He hesitates like he wants to argue, but then he nods, allowing himself to relax against me. I curl up beside him, resting my head on his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heartbeat. His arm wraps around me, pulling me closer, and we settle into the quiet, the kind of silence that feels like a balm on all the open wounds we’re both nursing.
Minutes stretch into something softer, the edges of the day blurring as we sink deeper into each other. His breathing evens out, and I can tell he’s on the brink of sleep, his body finally giving in to the exhaustion he’s been fighting. I close my eyes, letting the warmth of him lull me into the sense of security I’ve been craving.
But even as sleep starts to pull me under, the uncertainty still lingers at the back of my mind. I know I can’t ignore the conversation I need to have with Jack, the decision I need to make about where I belong. For now, though, with his arms around me and the steady rhythm of his breathing in my ears, I let myself forget about Stardust Hollow, about Ram, about everything that’s waiting for me outside this moment.
Because here, in this quiet space, wrapped up in Jack’s warmth, it feels like I’ve found the place I’m meant to be.