Marked

Chapter 22: Bonding

"Alpha Kane," I answered.

"Tess?" Kane asked in surprise.

"The one and only. Here's the deal," I said, leaning back in the couch. "You back off. They're staying. All of them. Until they feel like coming back. And when they do come back, you're not going to give them shit or I will come deal with it. Got it?"

"You're drunk," Kane commented.

"Yes, I am. But if I was sober I'd be saying the same thing. So back the fuck off and give them some time off for once. That's another issue we'll be confronting. As well as the fact that you have no higher ranked females. What the fuck is that about?"

"Have you been making a list of issues to bring up with me?" Kane asked.

"Of course I have. You're pissing me off and changes have to be made," I growled.

"Okay."

"Okay?" I asked in surprise.

"Yeah, okay."

"Why are you being so..."

"I'm just happy you have things to confront me about," he said. "It means not all hope is gone or you wouldn't care enough to have a list at all."

I didn't know what to say to that. I swallowed hard, realizing this was the longest conversation we'd had since everything happened.

"They stay," I said firmly. "We're becoming friends and I won't let you ruin it. And for fuck's sake, they get to go to the next mating ceremony. And they're getting scheduled time off. Stop being such a hard ass. How do you expect them to remain loyal if you give them no reason to be loyal to you? There's a reason Easton came into our pack so easily. If you don't play your cards right you're going to lose some awesome people."

"I'm beginning to see that," Kane sighed.

"You're awfully accommodating tonight," I said, frowning in confusion.

"For you. Only for you."

"Why the sudden change?" I asked.

"Because I saw how much I hurt you and I feel like shit. I'll do anything to get you back, Tess. Anything."

"You think doing everything I tell you to is going to fix what you did?" I asked doubtfully.

"No. I don't think anything is going to fix that," he sighed. "But I'll do anything I can. You haven't spoken to me this much since it happened. I take that as a victory."

Goddess, he thought of that too. Dammit. I took a deep breath, running my hand over the mark that was throbbing.

"Don't get used to it," I said.

"I won't," he said. "But Connor needs to take his medication. So he either needs to come here or I need to come to you."

"Medication for what?" I asked, glancing at Connor.

"He has Lyme's disease," Kane answered.

"Oh," I frowned. "Well you bring it here, but you can't stay. Not even just because of us. There's three protective drunkies here and the likelihood they'll keep themselves in check while this drunk is very low. Just head East and look for a cabin, we aren't in the pack house."

"Okay. Be there soon," he said.

He didn't hang up so I did, handing the phone back to Ben and frowning at Connor.

"Move," I said, pushing Kaden.

He moved over and I patted the space next to me. "Sit," I said to Connor.