The Hybrid Mate of the Alpha

Zoe slowly opened her eyes and gazed around the room. She took a deep breath and found that she was no longer in her room. She was no longer in the temple. 

I am in the guest room of Alpha Nikolai. Zoe thought to herself. 

She looked at the window on the opposite wall. She could hear the rain's constant downpour. Zoe took a deep breath. She had always found the sound of rain comforting. There were days when she would go to the hidden passage and sit under the tree and watch the rain fall. 

That's when the events of last night came barreling through her mind. She was a fox shifter; Zoe had changed in front of Alpha Nikolai, his subordinates, as well as the majority of the Elder Counsil. 

After changing, it was discovered that Zoe bore all three marks of the Alpha's mate. She was destined by the Moon Goddess to be Alpha Nikolai's mate and the Luna of the Cresent Moonstone Pack. 

A blush creeped across her face, remembering how he stripped her out of the dress she wore. Not only did he touch her skin, Zoe remembered him tracing his hands around the moon-shaped markings. 

Nikolai saw me naked. They had all seen her naked. 

She whimpered with the thought of anyone outside the priestesses at the temple seeing her bared and vulnerable. 

I am no longer welcomed into the temple of the Moon Goddess, Zoe thought. Sadness creeped inside her being. She had been cast out by her own mother and the very person she looked up to. 

She began to pull the covers and blankets over her head when she heard a knock on the door. 

"Zoe, its me. May I come in?" Zoe heard the gravel of Alpha Nikolai's voice on the other side of the door. 

"Yy—yes, come in," she stuttered. Zoe could not help but be embarrassed; no man had ever been in her bedroom. 

This is not your bedroom, Zoe. This is Alpha Nikoli's house. Snap out of it. She thought bitterly. 

The door slowly opened, revealing the Alpha wearing a sleeveless black shirt and plain jogger pants. He was holding a tray of food in his hands. He pushed the door open wider enough for him to make his way into the room without spilling anything. 

Zoe sat up and pushed the covers from over her. "Good morning Alpha—

"Zoe, we have discussed this; you are my mate. You are to call me Nikolai or Nik." The Alpha stated as he gently set the tray of food on the bed. 

Zoe was amazed by the array of food displayed. There was a plate of eggs both scrambled and fried, bacon, and pancakes fixed on both plates. In a separate smaller bowl was a mixture of fruit. There was a plate of strips of meat that Zoe had never seen before. Next to the silverware were two glasses of what appeared to be orange juice. 

Zoe looked up at her host and smiled. "Looks like you went overboard there, Nik," Zoe said. She realized that she was teasing him and leaned back, closing herself off.

"Well, this is actually smaller than what I usually make for refugees seeking asylum in my home. But I considered your diet as a priestess and your new abilities," Nikolai said as he handed her a fork. 

"Eat, you need to build up your strength. You went up and down the mountains twice in one day and in harsh weather conditions no less." He said as he took a bite of the meat strip Zoe kept eyeing. 

"Want some,' he asked. 

"What is it?" Zoe said, poking her finger nail at the cut of meat. Nikolai laughed. "What's so funny?" 

"My apologizes, I forget that priestesses don't typically eat meat unless it's a special occasion. This," the Alpha pointed to the meat she had poked. "is a steak strip, help yourself." 

Zoe picked up her fork a stabbed the meat before lifting it up and examining it. She brought her fork closer to her face and took a bite. As she began to chew she felt the juices flowing down her throat. 

Alpha Nikolai had been right. The last piece of meat Zoe had was during the blessing of the Moon Goddess three moons ago.

"So what do you think?" Nikolai asked. He sounded like a concerned parent awaiting a child's thoughts on vegetables. 

"Its different but I like it." Zoe said. She took the glass of orange juice and took a gulp. 

"That's good to know. Most of the refugees that come here are already accustomed to eating meat," Nikolai said as he took a bite of the eggs. 

As Zoe swallowed her food she realized that Nikolai had said most. 

"What about the others?" She was interested in the system. She never knew about the process of seeking sanctuary until last night.

Nikolai chewed and swallowed the food that was in his mouth before continuing. 

"I have had a few rogues that seek passage with a wolf that is too injured to eat regular food. So we hunted anything from deer to buffalo, from the injured to recover." Nikolai said. He took another drink of juice. 

"Doesn't that make wolves feel inferior to have someone else hunt for them?" Zoe asked.

"Not when it is the Alpha and his beta. This is considered a gesture of good will amongst stragglers trying to seek a new pack to join. Even if they do not stay with us, I cannot let them pass through the tribe without clearing them," Nikolai stated. 

"And if they are not cleared? What happens then?" Zoe panicked.

Nikolai noticed her doubt and began to comfort her. 

"Zoe, I have already discussed your situation with the council and Elder Grace vouched for you as well. You have nothing to worry about. But in other cases, they get sent back where they came or worse," Nikolai said as he continued to eat. 

At that thought, Zoe began to lose her appetite. But then again, she had eaten more than she did during breakfast at the temple. 

Compared to most of the she-wolves around the tribe, she did not consider herself a subtle mate for the Alpha in front of her. 

So why? 

Why was he interested in her? It could have been just the mating call from the Moon Goddess. 

"Can I ask you something, Al—I mean Nikolai?" Zoe said.

"Ask away," he said. He grabbed one of the grapes from the bowl a popped it into his mouth. 

"Do you truly want me as a mate?" Zoe said. She knew that Nikolai was one of the most powerful Alphas that the pack has ever had. She was just a banished temple maiden. 

Nikolai pushed the tray to the side and reached for Zoe. His hand brushed against her cheek and rested on her lips. Zoe's heart began to race and flutter inside of her chest. 

"Do you feel that?" Nikolai asked as he stared deeply into Zoe's eyes. 

All she could do was nod. "I had felt that and more since you walked into the meeting. I felt my wolf fighting me for control the moment I called you that slur." Nikolai said as he brushed his lips, to her cheek. 

"I never said I was sorry for calling you anything other than your name. But I promise that I will spend the rest of my days making it up to you," Nikolai said. 

Zoe felt like she could hardly breathe. She had heard of mates pledging their souls to one another but experiencing it was a different matter. 

"Nikolai, I—

He moved his lips to her forehead and planted a gentle kiss there before grabbing the tray of finished food. "It is not a pledge, Zoe. I am making you a promise. I do not expect you to blindly pledge your soul to a man that you know nothing about," he said as he rose from the bed. As he made his way to the door he turned and smiled at Zoe. 

"We will take things day by day. I am in no rush." He said to her. 

"Thank you," Zoe muttered. She could not believe that he was already dedicated to her. He had said that they knew nothing about one another. She knew nothing about the Alpha except what she heard from the maidens that ventured down the mountains. 

She was not strong enough to be considered his mate. She could not be Luna of this tribe. 

Zoe was terrified of what would come next.