As Zoe began to get dressed she heard a loud slam and then Nikolai proceeded to shout out loud.
"So you would rather your daughter be passed around to everyone than become my mate and the tribe's Luna!"
This unnerved Zoe for a moment. She had heard of the temper of the Alpha but to hear it first hand was something she did not expect. Zoe quickly dressed in a loose tan colored dress that she found in the closet; she grabbed the matching colored sandals before hurrying out of the room.
She did not hear a sound but as she ventured to the source of the shouting she found Nikolai sitting in the living room on the sofa. She approached with caution as she put her hand on the Alpha's shoulder.
He slowly raised his head and looked up at her. She gasped to see that his eyes were completely darkened over.
"Alpha Nik— Suddenly Nikolai swooped Zoe into his lap and into his arms. He nuzzled into her throat and gave it a slow lick. Zoe shuddered at the action of the man under her.
"Alpha—
"I thought we made it clear that you were to call me Nikolai or Nik." He growled. His wolf had taken over.
"Nik, is everything alright?" Zoe stuttered as he flicked his tongue against her collar bone.
His chest vibrated at the sneer of anger in his heart.
"Well, I got an interesting phone call from the temple priestess and your mother." Nikolai's tone grew hollow and deep.
"My mother? Why?" Zoe questioned as she tried to wiggle free, but Nikolai's grip would not budge. "Nikolai, can you let go of me please?"
He buried his face in her neck and took a deep breath. The sensation alone brought warmth to Zoe's body.
"Zoe, right now, having you this close to me is better for everyone around. Only the Luna can calm her Alpha and settle my wolf right now."
With his words Nikolai loosened his grip on Zoe but only to stretch their bodies on the couch. This position put Zoe lying down on her back and Nikolai hovering over her frame. His head was resting on her midsection.
Zoe shook her head. She wanted to tell him that she had not decided to become his mate, but at the moment she did not feel that it was the right option to go. Not with Nikolai's wolf fighting him.
"Nik, what did they tell you?" Zoe whimpered. She tried to push herself up on her elbows but the weight of the large man limited her.
For a second he was quiet. He closed his eyes and rested his head on her stomach.
"Nik, you're scaring me…., Zoe whispered for him to hear.
He quickly lifted up his head. He stared deeply at her and lifted himself up. He hovered over her form as his eyes never left hers.
"Zoe I can't ….
Without a thought and without hesitating, Nikolai captured her lips. Zoe gasped against Nikolai's mouth but she could not fight her. It was as if her body would not give her that control.
What started out as a slow kiss trying to find one another turned heated and demanding. Nikolai rested his hand on Zoe's hip and the other under her head. He rose them back up to where Zoe was back in his lap.
As Zoe opened her mouth to try to stop him, Nikolai's tongue brushed against her lips and plunged deep into her mouth. She did not fight him and her core began to melt.
Her body responded to his as Nikolai gripped her waist and moved their bodies intertwined.
Zoe held Nikolai's shoulders as she balanced herself. She felt her body move against his as their tongues battled for control.
The movement between Nikolai's sweatpants and Zoe's panties created friction that was foreign to the maiden. As she let out a soft moan she felt something rub against her vagina.
Nikolai's pants grew tighter the more she moved against him. He growled as he tightened his grip on her waist, trying to control the pace that she moved. He wanted his mate to enjoy every second of it.
Nikolai moved away from Zoe's mouth to her neck and layered kiss after kiss onto her frame.
As Nikolai reached for the hem of Zoe's dress it snapped her out of the sensual trance.
"Alpha Nikolai, please." Zoe called out to his huma inside. With a deep groan and leaning his head against the top of the couch, Nikoli let out a slow exhale.
Zoe's breath was frantic and out of control for a moment. She tried to steady her heartbeat but found it hard. She had never experienced anything like that at all. Nor did any one at the temple explain how this would happen between intended mates.
"Nikolai…can…you…hear me," Zoe said, trying her hardest to catch her breath.
She could see his Adam's apple bob up and down as he had swallowed.
"I'm here." He muttered. He dropped his hands from Zoe's waist but neither made any moves.
"are you okay? I thought you lost control for a minute." Zoe said, trying to see the colors of his iries.
"For a moment there I did," he groaned. "Between your scent and your mother's words," he said with a bite. "I almost let my wolf take control."
"What would have happened?" Zoe said.
Nikoli lifted his head up and looked at his mate. He placed his hand on her cheek. He could smell her fear that replaced her arousal; that was the last thing that he wanted was for his love to be afraid of him.
"My wolf probably would have let you ride me until your orgasmed." He shrugged.
But Zoe was flabbergastered by the nonchalant remark he made. "I'm sorry," she squealed. That made her slowly rise from him. She felt damp.
"A wolf's mate brings them comfort and you being my mate—whether you are hesitant or not—
"You noticed?" Zoe stuttered.
"Little fox, I noticed everything about you from your fear of my eyes to your scent when you move against me." He chuckled. He tapped on his nose; this made Zoe blush.
"So you know that —
"I know you are a virgin, yes. I don't mind it; I know that most maidens of the temple either pledge themselves to the Goddess or to their intended mates. I would not expect you to be any different," Nikolai said. He leaned over and planted a kiss on Zoe's forehead.
"I don't mind being your first and only," he said.
"Why did you need comfort from me?" Zoe asked. "What did the priestess tell you? What did my mother say?" Zoe said. She felt angered that they would even care after they excommunicated her from the temple.
"Well, your high priestess mentioned that I was not to harm you in any way shape or form or she would make sure that the elders heard about it," Nikolai said with a huff.
That sounded almost motherly and kind of the High Priestess to Zoe. It was not out of the ordinary that she would be worried about her flock, except for the fact that they exiled her. Then Zoe thought about her mother.
"What did my mother say?" Zoe said wearily.
Nikolai's chuckle turned into a burst of laughter. "Your mother was a real character. Apparently, she finds me "unworthy of you" her words."
Zoe could tell why his wolf took over her mother's words had not only upset Nikolai. They also hurt him.
"I am so sorry Nik," Zoe said.
"Oh its gets better," he said.
"Oh no," Zoe slumped down on the couch.
"She claims that —no, she demanded that I release you."
That confused Zoe. Release her? Did her mother truly not understand the gravity of exiling her from the temple? Zoe had no where to go. They put her in Nikolai's path and they had no one to blame but themselves.
"Release me?"
Nikolai sighed, "They want me to release you from my care and send you to another tribe's temple for the time being. Your mother also made it clear that she wants me to release you from being my mate. That way no one dies and the tribe does not die out either." Nikolai's last words sounded bitter.
Zoe tried to ignore the fact that there was another option to their bond.
"SO that's why you yelled all of a sudden and why your wolf needed me."
Nikolai rose up from the couch and bent down in front of her. He grabbed her hands and kissed them.
"I am sorry Zoe. I did not want that to be how you see me or my wolf. I am not some animal controlled by my urges. I wanted comfort and my wolf wanted to make you ours. I hope you do not hate me."
Zoe shook her head. "I don't hate you. I don't understand a lot about the mating bond, but I do not hate you for seeking me out. At least I know that you both want me."
Nikolai laughed. "When you are ready I will show you how much I want you to be by my side. And if it turns out that this is not the path for us, Zoe, I will release you from the bond."
Zoe stared at Nikolai for a moment.
"Nikolai, you told me that we will die out if that happens; if we reject each other. My mother and the High Priestess confirmed it."
"If that's what you want, I will die for you."
A slap rang out through the room. Zoe slid into his arms.
"Please do not joke like that. You are the pact's Alpha. You protect them feelings aside. That is your oath."
"My mate's needs—
"My wants do not come before your people!" Zoe shouted. She felt his arms embrace her.
"You are the Alpha of the pack and I am the defense of the tribe. I swore to protect this and everything here." She hiccuped.
"If you will have me, Zoe," Nikoai stated.
All she could do was nod.
"Alright, then we will take things slow."