Markings (25 page)

I raised my brows. She’d never talked so negatively before. Did everyone have to act like we were doomed? “I don’t want to rule a world like that.” I didn’t want to be part of a world where war was a constant threat and bonds with people stayed shallow so that when they got killed you weren’t left heartbroken.

Trinity made a face. “Lina, trust me: I wish it were different. I wanted so much for you to see the wonderful parts of being a Shifter, and there
are
wonderful parts, but there are horrible parts, too. I wish the pack would just back off and leave us alone for good, but they never will. They never will because they’ve been taught and bred with the idea that we’re responsible for their agony. They were cursed because of our founding mother, Bastet. We will always be enemies.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping it would slow the tears. My hand went back to my chest, waiting for my heart to come out and land in it. How could she, too, sound so hopeless? Why was everyone acting like nothing had changed? I’d shifted, for God’s sake! I was Alpha and Senneth was dead! Yes, it killed me to know so many had passed for me, that Aaron might pass because of me, but it only fueled my fire—it didn’t take it away.

Grabbing my crutches, I jumped up. Trinity watched as I swung out the door, nearly bowling over a nurse as I went back to the waiting room.

“Everybody, listen up,” I demanded. The group’s chatter stopped as I regained their attention. Mom and Kat perked up, sitting on a table in the middle. “Listen, heartbreak has struck every single one of us in one form or another. Because of Senneth, everyone has lost something or someone . . . but good God, people, I will
not
rule a bunch of glooms. Yes, this is a time to mourn for those that were lost, but also a time to realize that we have done something great. Senneth’s downfall should not have us in fear of some lethal, new pack movement,”—I shot Dena a look—“but it should make you see that even in our darkest hour, we pulled together. We defeated what we thought for sure was going to destroy us. Shouldn’t we be
happy
about that?”

Everybody looked between each other. Guilt flashed through a few faces. Others smirked. Dena had tensed up in her chair and was now folding her arms. A woman sitting off my left muttered, “I’m happy.”

I looked to the voice.

A small-boned, quiet-looking woman had sat up in her chair. “I’m happy, because my newborn son will never know the days that Senneth ruled our land,” she continued. “Lina’s right. We should take relief in Senneth being gone, and quit dwelling on the other factors for now. Everyone else in Home Base is celebrating.”

“
Everyone else
isn’t in charge of overseeing new threats,” Dena muttered.

“What is your name?” I asked the woman, ignoring Ms. Border Patrol.

She smiled a little. Her mouth twitched, like she hadn’t smiled in a long time. “Suzie, your highness.”

“Thank you, Suzie. I’m glad to know someone can see the light.” I took a deep breath. My face was hot and I felt perspiration going down my neck that I hoped nobody could see. “Look, I know a teenage girl being your leader must be nerve-wrecking. Trust me, I’m nerve-wrecked right now, see?”

I held up my hand, and it jittered in the air. Chuckles echoed around the room. Suzie’s smile was joined by others. “But the moment I shifted, I swear to you: I felt something powerful, and I know you guys felt it, too. I believe we can settle our issues with the pack, or at least come to a truce. There was a truce when Jinalo was alive. I will help you make our lives better . . . I’m ready to be your Alpha. You guys going to believe in me or not?”

Suzie stood up. “I believe in you.”

Mom stood up right after her. “I’m your mother.” She eyed the clan, like they should take note of this. “There will never be a moment that I don’t believe in you.”

“We didn’t come out of the same womb,” Kat said, jumping up. “But damn, woman, you’re practically my sister. I’m fairly sure it’s in my contract to be behind you, and even if it wasn’t, you’d know I am anyways.”

“I do.” Trinity leaned against the wall across from me. “And I know without a doubt that Aaron does, too.”

I swallowed, trying not to tear up again at his name. One by one the clan muttered their agreement, rising from their chairs or off others’ laps.

Dena was the last one sitting down. She sighed. “I will always believe in the Alpha.” She got up from her chair. “But I hope you know: it’s a hard world you’ve been born into. What you saw in the mansion was just a snippet. Don’t do anything stupid trying to deal with the Iew Keftey.”

“I’ve been told it’s a hard world. But it’s a world I’m going to change.” And with that, I turned my crutches towards the hallway and headed for the front lobby. I hadn’t been checked out by a nurse or doctor, but I didn’t care. I headed for the doors anyway, knowing I needed to get to Home Base.

My crutches clacked along the tile floor, alone at first. Suddenly another clacking sounded off, like Kat’s ballet flats following me. The squeak of Mom’s tennis shoes joined after, and I waited for her to go all practical and tell me I needed doctor’s approval to go. She never spoke. The slap of Trinity’s flip-flops came after that, then the slap of feet. Tons of feet.

I glanced over my shoulder.

The entire waiting room had cleared out and was following. Everyone held their heads high, the heady smell of feline clouding the hall. They spanned out around me, some moving in front, some on the sides, a few at the rear. I felt like the president, being surrounded by my bodyguards. I sort of smiled to myself. It was the first time I’d felt accepted by a group, well,
ever
. And not just any group. This was
my
group, my clan. And while the number of uncertainties in my future were many, and my heart was currently broken, I felt a fire inside myself that I’d never felt before. It was a power that whispered,
you will do this.

And a power that roared,
I am the Alpha of the Western Clan.

Acknowledgments

W
hen I turned seventeen, I finally found the strength to walk out of my first relationship—which was not a good one and ended on a very long, dramatic, and somewhat traumatizing note. To top it off, my best friend in the whole world was so angry at me for dating said person that she moved schools, and cruel rumors about me were flying around the high school left and right.

That was when I recoiled from the world, absorbing myself in anything and everything fantasy. After reading Stephenie Meyer’s
Twilight
, I started asking myself “Why am I not writing awesome stories like this? I used to write all the time and I was so good at it!”

After the breakup I had written a lot of short stories, but the second I finished the
Twilight
series I knew it was time to brave up and branch out. Maybe it was some deep need to prove myself, but at just seventeen I sat down to write my first book. While it has now undergone three partial rewrites and numerous edits, that book became
Markings
.

I have a lot of people to thank for this book, as it became my first work and truest love.

The first person I want to thank is my mom, Gudrun. This woman has stood by me through thick and thin, good times and bad. She supported
Markings
and gave me ideas throughout its conception, and backed me with an iron fist when people disagreed with me becoming a writer. She celebrated my requests . . . and brought me chocolate and coffee after rejections.
Markings
became great because of her support . . . I love you more than life, Momma.

Next I want to thank my girlfriends and biggest fans: Rachel, Shainna, Zoe, and Hope. Shainna especially because she was rooting for
Markings
looong before it was finished and she always gave me good advice. I love all you guys! You are like my other family!

I also want to thank Kinzie, my friend, my encourager, and my sis. Thank you for loving this book from beginning to end, and bringing light into my darker days! Your inner strength and wisdom inspired me to be a stronger person, which lead me to never give up on
Markings
.

And I cannot forget the teachers who helped make this book possible. Mr. Kline, you became my sort of supervisor when I told the school I wanted
Markings
to be my senior project. You not only bared through my first horrible synopses and crappy query letters, but you stood up for me when the senior projects department tried to tell me there had been too many “failed book attempts” and that I shouldn’t do a book for my graduation final. I will never forget that. Thank you.

And to Mr. McDonald and Mrs. Haynie: thank you both for your undying enthusiasm and support!!! I needed it and you both helped me feel even more confident about the path I was choosing. Thank you for supporting my dreams.

Lastly I want to thank the amazing staff at WiD
ō
Publishing. I can’t even describe the moment I saw
Markings’
book cover and knew it was going to be the reality I’d always dreamed of. It was an amazing moment when I realized I’d finally done what I’d set out to do five years ago. An endless supply of thank-yous!!!