Severed Ties Chapter 3

When my phone buzzed, I grabbed my pill bottle. Werewolves metabolized medications so quickly, I had to take my antidepressants six times a day for them to remain effective. It was worth it to feel normal. Looking around my apartment, I was lonely for the first time in years. Seeing Jake reminded me of all I’d lost with my pack. While I’d survived and learned to live without my pack, it had been difficult at first. With any luck, I could prevent others from suffering like I had.

Grabbing my phone to turn off the alarm, I noticed I had a text message, which must have come through when my alarm sounded.

Jake: It’s Jake. Lunch tomorrow?

His request was so unexpected, I simply stared at my phone, not sure what to do. I had no idea how he’d gotten my number. When the doorbell rang, I was grateful for the reprieve from deciding how to respond to Jake’s invitation. Standing at my door was Evangalina Talbot, Evie to everyone who knew her. Evie was one of the witches who worked with me to raise acceptance and awareness of mental illness among werewolves. Not only was she one of the few psychiatrists in the paranormal community where mental health issues were still largely unaccepted, she was also a doctor who helped hide the existence of werewolves when they ended up in human hospitals. She’d been there the day I’d been treated, and we’d developed a friendship over the years. That was why Evie was no longer my psychiatrist. While there were no rules against her treating me, we’d decided it would be awkward.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” I told Evie, thankful I’d invited her over.

Evie came into the house, looking concerned. “Are you okay?”

Evie’s familiar, a black cat named Jezebel, eyed me before shaking her head and making herself comfortable on my sofa.

“You are not the doctor here, Jezi,” Evie called out to her familiar.

“She should be,” I argued. “Jezebel is never wrong.”

“Except when it comes to men,” Evie reminded me.

I laughed, which eased some of my tension. Evie’s familiar loved all men, and Evie had learned early in life not to take her familiar’s advice on men.

“Do you think you created a monster by naming her Jezebel?” I asked.

“I don’t see any other explanation,” Evie agreed. “So, what’s bothering you? As much as I hate to admit it, my familiar is usually right about these things. Do you need your medication adjusted?”

“I’m definitely not depressed,” I assured her. “Just confused.”

“About what?” she pushed.

“I met with the Sonoma pack,” I began.

Evie groaned, probably already guessing how they’d reacted. They were one of the packs we’d expected to be resistant to any change, so I’d been prepared. “Were they more awful than we expected?”

“Actually, they were much nicer than I’d expected them to be when they told me rejects such as me should be banished from packs. I’ll admit I was a little off the entire presentation, but that was probably because Jake was there.”

“Jake?” I saw the moment Evie recognized the name because her eyes widened. “Jake from your old pack?”

I nodded. “My childhood best friend was there the entire presentation.”

“Was he a dick about everything?” she asked.

“No, but he was angry with me for keeping it from him,” I admitted. “He didn’t understand why I never called him.”

“How did that make you feel?” she asked, laughing when I glared at her. “Sorry, but this is what I do. You’re a clinical psychologist, so you understand how it is.”

“It hurt, and I’m confused by my reaction to him,” I explained. “Jake is not the skinny boy I left behind.”

“So, he’s totally hot,” she deduced.

“Oh. My. God,” I began. “He is beyond drool worthy.”

“Too bad he didn’t want to rekindle your friendship or do a sexy striptease for you,” Evie said, shaking her hips back and forth in the worst impression of a lap dance I’d ever seen.

Trying to get my laughter under control, I grabbed the only throw pillow Jezebel hadn’t sprawled out on and tossed it at her. “Please stop. We both know you cannot dance.”

“I can!” she argued, “just not very well. I wonder if your sexy wolf can dance.”

“You are just as bad as your familiar,” I accused.

Jezebel glared at me, and I was sure she didn’t appreciate the comparison. “Sorry, Jezi,” I told her, but my apology didn’t save my throw pillow from her snagging it with her claws.

Evie cringed. “Sorry. I promise to replace it.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I assured her, waving off her offer. “I only put these out when you’re coming over.”

Evie laughed, but Jezebel did not look amused at having been thwarted.

“Jake messaged me right before you got here, asking me to have lunch with him,” I told my friend.

“What did you say?” she asked.

“I haven’t answered him,” I admitted. “What am I supposed to say?”

“Yes, of course,” Evie told me. “What harm can there be in meeting him?”

“He’s still a member of my old pack,” I explained, and Evie’s face fell.

As far as the pack was concerned, I no longer existed. It was why I’d never go to my old pack to speak about mental health awareness. I was dead to them, and Jake should not be contacting me.

“I can’t meet him,” I told Evie with a sad sigh.

“The hell you can’t,” Evie snapped angrily. “It’s a stupid policy, and you do not need to respect it.”

“You want me to get Jake in trouble with the pack?” I asked.

She shook her head. “I think you should give Jake the chance you didn’t give him all those years ago. Let him decide how he’s going to handle your banishment.”

Looking at my friend, I realized she was right. With a decisive nod, I grabbed my phone and typed out a reply before I could change my mind.

Hadley: I’m free in the afternoon. Where would you like to meet?

“I just agreed to meet him,” I breathed out.

Evie hugged me. “Don’t worry, Hadley. This will be great.”

I wasn’t sure I agreed, but Evie was right about letting Jake decide if he wanted to risk angering the pack. It wasn’t my job to protect him.