The encounter with Nikolai had Zoe on edge. Every time he moved she shuddered. Whenever he looked her way she blushed, but she could not help it.
Zoe had never been touched like that. It was more than just unexpected; it was an awakening that Zoe could not believe she would not experience if she had not left the temple.
That is why when Alpha Nikolai mentioned that he would be taking her to a sanctioned altar for her to practice putting up a barrier around the tribe's village, she could not help but be terrified. She had not created a barrier in months. And every time she put up a barrier it was in the mountains.
This made it easier for the barrier project over the village. The High Priest and her mother mentioned that she did not have to engulf the entire village because the barrier acted like an overcast and dropped down instead of rising up.
They don't believe that I can protect the village since I was exiled from the temple. Do they think I get my abilities from the other priestess? Zoe pondered as Alpha Nikolai escorted her to the section.
It was the same place where she asked for an audience with the Alpha and the council.
Who would have thought I would be here again after everything I went through?
Zoe thought as shewalked across the marbled floor. She wore her traditional dress but, unlike the one she wore at the meeting, this one was a light blue and was decorated with white beads along the waist. Nikoli had asked Elder Grace to bring it to his home before they left. She had helped Zoe get ready for the meeting; it was customary that another woman close to the priestess performing the ritual aided her in preparing.
To be honest, Zoe was happy to have a familiar face around.
"So how are you doing," Elder Grace asked as they walked behind Alpha Nikolai.
Zoe smiled and nodded. "I am doing well. Elder Grace," she said slowly down out of the Alpha's earshot. "I would like to thank you again for telling me about seeking refuge with Alpha Nikolai."
Elder Grace lifted the arm of her robes to hide her smile and chuckle. "My word, even though he is your destined mate, you still seem determined to acknowledge his title." Zoe looked ahead and saw that the Alpha was not paying attention to their conversation, but she had a feeling that he heard.
"I still have not gotten used to calling him anything outside his title," Zoe said as her face grew red.
"That is normal," Elder Grace reassured the priestess. "Most mates have a hard time breaking out of the habit of showing superiority or sub-servant. The difference is, since you have high-ranking titles, you are on the same playing field as your mate." Elder Grace said as she headed forward towards the other members.
"Keep that in mind when dealing with the council, sweetheart. You are our Luna in more than just name." With that bit of advice, the elder went to the other side of the room.
Zoe took a deep breath and almost lost all the wind in her chest when she saw her mother and the High Priestess standing among the Elders.
Alpha Nikolai halted and grabbed Zoe by the waist and moved her closer so only she could hear him.
"I apologize beba, I did not realize they would want to witness your practice," the alpha said as he looked across the room. His eyes were directed at Zoe's mother.
The High Priest stood in front of the circle and began to dust off her hands. She had drawn out the circle for Zoe.
At least the High Priestess was considerate to make the appropriate markings. I doubt Alpha Nikolai or the elders could have done it.
Zoe thought as she slowly walked to the circle and bowed her head in respect. "High Priestess and Acolyte Madelyn, thank you both very much for the help." She refused to look at either of the women.
Something about her nightmare made her cautious of them both.
"Before we start, Acolyte Madelyn would like to say a few words," Elder Grace said, stepping forward. This had surprised both Alpha Nikolai and Zoé. Zoe knew that both priestesses thought themselves higher than the elders in the temple. However, just like the elders, they had to abide by the laws of the pack here.
"Which is," Nikolai said, trying not to spit out his anger towards the women.
Acolyte Madelyn, slowly moved towards her daughter. "Zoe I…we implore you. Refuse the role of Luna and let Alpha Nikolai find another suitable mate. Come back to the temple." Her mother cried.
The Alpha roared at her pleads. "ENOUGH!" Everyone jumped at his command. "This is supposed to be practice for Zoé to create a barrier around the village and the mountains. You abandoned your priestess," he said, looking at the High Priestess.
"You exiled your daughter," he looked at her mother. "I granted my mate sanctuary and I will not hear anything else about it unless it is coming from Zoe. UNDERSTAND!" Alpha Nikolai growled at the last word.
Everyone in the room was almost on their knees. Everyone except Zoe was on the floor with their heads bowed. She looked over at Nikolai and saw his left pupil was red, but the right eye was completely blacked out.
"Alpha Nikolai, I will step into the barrier and create a barrier, if that is your command," Zoe said as she bowed in front of him. She felt him cuffing his hand under her chin and raise her head in front of him.
Don't ever bow to me, mate. Alpha Nikoli whispered into her mind.
She nodded as she slipped off her shoes and walked into the circle. As her bare feet touched the inner circle, it began to glow white and pure as the chalk.
Zoe took a deep breath as she got to the middle of the emblem. She felt the tension in the room dissipate as she cleared her thoughts.
Zoe lowered herself to the floor and stretched her body to the front of the circle and spread her arms across, not damaging the fresh layout that the High Priestess had created.
Unlike the circle here, there the circle in the temple was a permanent etch in the floor. It was redone every few years.
"Alpha Nikolai," the High Priestess muttered quietly. "We need your offering." She did not move from her position. She simply pulled the ritual knife from her robe and lifted it up with both hands.
The Alpha ignored it as he balled up his fist and flexed his forearm. He brought his arm to his mouth and bit down. No one said a word as he walked towards the circle.
He looked at Zoe and squeezed his fist. Droplets of blood began to fall onto the pure white etchings. As the blood flowed, the circle began to glow a bright red, Nikoli cuffed his other arm over the wound.
"Does that work for the ritual," he questioned as he walked away.
No one answered him. Zoe let go of all her angry thoughts and fears. Forget. She thought as she felt the power engulf her being. Forget. Zoe closed her eyes and gently pushed the energy out of her body.
Creating the barrier was always easy for Zoe because it felt like shedding her skin and blanketing around herself and everything that she held dear. As the Wicca of the Villa, she was the protection in the mountains, but she felt her body fighting her as she tried to extend the blanket over the village.
"Zoe," she could hear the Alpha call to her. His power may have been the offering for the ceremony but something was different. It slammed a wave of dark energy into her and the barrier. They all felt it as Zoe shut her eyes tightened.
She let out a blood-curling scream as the barrier grew larger. All of that power that surrounded Zoe had no place to escape. She tried to push it all out but something stayed and fought her tooth and nail. She felt her skin begin to heat up and slowly burn. She screamed louder as she grabbed her shoulder with her opposite hand.
Mate, talk to me. What's wrong? Nikolai tried to reach her but she could not communicate.
As she grew silent and the barrier grew over the entire land, everyone was in shock. They felt the power of the maiden in the circle. Her power was that was stronger than the High Priestess herself.
"This is the power of the Luna. She is protecting the village in the barrier as the Alpha patrols the lands in the Goddess's protecting form." One of the Elders said in amazement.
"How do we get her out," the Alpha demanded.
"We can't, as a Meister priestess, Zoe has to be the one to drop the barrier."
Zoe could hear someone answer him, but she could not determine which priestess it was. Her vision was starting to cloud up and grow hazy.
"Zoe, listen to me, you have to drop the barrier. The demonstration is over, you did it." Elder Grace stated.
"The barrier extended from the sanction all the way to the top of the mountain. The barrier is over all of the pack's land." One of the male elders said.
However, Zoe was still kneeling and unresponsive. Elder Grace turned to the Alpha and began to talk with him.
"Alpha, Zoe is your mate and your call and awaken her."
Nikolai walked slowly to the circle. He was about to touch the circle when the three women stopped him. Zoe's mother grabbed his hand and shouted. "If you touch the barrier, Zoe's current state will see you as a threat and might use her defenses against you."
Nikolai snatched his arm from the priestess and turned back to the circle and his mate in the barrier.
Mate, I command you to drop the barrier. Now.
Zoe's head started to hang backwards and Nikolai saw the barrier began to flicker and fall. As the barrier fell, he raced towards his mate and caught her before her body could hit the floor.
"Someone get a doctor now!" Nikolai yelled at the people in the room.
Everyone except the High Priestess scattered out of the room.
She kneeled down and moved Zoe's hair from her face, this resulted in the Alpha growling at her. His instincts to protect what was his was forcing his wolf to push itself out once more.
"Alpha, you must listen to me. Zoe does not need to be trained as a priestess any longer, but she does need to keep her training and teachings in mind." She looked down at her disciple with pride. Zoe was destined to be stronger than any priest in the coven. She was a powerful miko.
The High Priestess continued, "She needs to be nurtured as your Luna, and Zoe needs to be skilled as a shifter. This means that her time would best be served in the company of you and the pack. As your mate." The High Priestess may not have wanted to exile Zoe, but she knew it was best for the pack and for Zoe's wellbeing.
The Alpha needs his Luna. The Luna cannot be without her mate. The words of the former Alpha rang in her thoughts.
Nikolai looked at her and growled. "Get out, now."
"As you wish, Alpha."