As the light shined in my eyes there was no doubt in my mind that everything that happened last night was not what I wanted. I wanted to be respected in the tribe.
I did not want to be labelled as the Whore of the Tribe. The dual tribe title of both Wicca of the Crescent Moonstone Pack as well as the unflattering name of Tribal Whore is given to the highest and strongest witch in the wolf pack tribe.
Since my birth many of the priests knew that the title would be mine and mine alone. I would have no competition nor did any one in the temple want my title.
There had not been a Wicca of the Pact in generations, so when I was first told about this at the age of fifteen I thought it would be an honor. That was until the day that Nikoli had named Lex his superior and brother-in-arms. That was the second time I was called a whore.
The first was as if it was a casual thing to call a priestess of my caliber. That same night the high-priestesses explained to me my role.
Become a virgin to the temple and take no lovers and I would cut off the witches powers to the Pack. I could still protect the tribe as a whole but the pact would not be able to enter the temple without reason.
If I took the title, I would be passed around the pack and be the designated whore for all to disrespect and humiliate. There would be a ritual to spill my blood and strengthen the pack as a whole. I would not die though.
I would never marry.
I would never find my mate.
So of course I wanted a life that was my own and I wanted the respect I deserved.
I tried my hardest not to think about it. I thought petitioning the title with the Alpha Nikoli would give some head weigh in these modern days. However many of the Alphas were trained and taught by Elders that still believed that the OLD traditions were and should be kept. Even if they were deeming to one of the strongest being in the pact.
Shifting in my bed I laid there looking up at the ceiling. I came to realize that this was not the ceiling that I had stared at for almost two decades, this was the room of someone else. Rolling over on my stomach, I was glad to feel my clothes tangled underneath me and around me.
Whomever had caught me when I fainted must have been a gentleman and put my clothes back on. Pressing my face into the pillows, I cold smell the radiance on the woods and the HUNT. I was in the home of a male were. To be exact I was in the bed of a male wolf that had taken care of me, but I did not know whom.
As I pushed my now finely tuned nose I could distinguish the scent of the bed owner. With in seconds I was full of rage and desire; I was in the Alpha's room.
I needed to leave.NOW.
As I swung my legs and frame from out of the bed the door adjacent to the bed opened, and he entered. Nikoli looked at me with deep concern and passion. The look that he would give his mate…
Shit
He must have noticed that I had awakened. He slowly approached me as if I were a skittish wounded animal. He was cautious in his movements towards me.
Not that I blamed him. How do you approach someone that had no idea that they would be transforming into a cute and cuddly creature.
"I am not going to hurt you."
"I doubt that, Alpha," I snarled. Wait I can snarl now.
Even if I despised him I still need to use his title. I gave respect even though he never showed me any.
"Viv," he said trying to get my attention.
"What?"
"Lex and Dire told me that you go by Viv. Look I would lie to start over and apologize for what happened." I stare at his expression.
My CHANGE had heighten all my senses. I could smell better, I could hear so much clear. But my thoughts were jumbled too much to think about that.
The headache for whatever reason hit me hard. I felt myself being nudge back to the bed to see Nikoli laying down next to me pulling me in closer. When I tried to move away his grip tightened and his muzzle began to growl against my throat.
Domanice, just what I did not want or need, I thought as I pushed my hands against his chest trying to steady myself. It failed miserably.
"You are going to have a migraine for a while since you shifted. You forced your change back with out anyone's help and it took a lot out of you." Nikoli said.
I could see his arm reach over on the night stand and hand me a glass of water. I tried to show gratitude but the intense pain I felt preventive my display of hospitality. Maybe it was a good thing. He hated me. Nikoli was a monster, a Alpha that used others like me.
I could feel his chest rise and fall as I moved away. With the water out of his hand he let me move away enough to drink but not far enough that I would not be near him.
"Look Viv," he started.
"Zoe,"I corrected. "My name is Zoe. Vi and Viv are my title at the temple."
"Apologize Zoe. I spoke with the Elders and I have receded your title." He muttered.
It must have be his tone or my headache but I was concerned by the change. I do not know what possessed me to but I swallow a huge gulp of water and proceeded to speak with Nikoli.
"Why? Why would you do that?" I asked. Even though it was what I wanted I did not understand why he would grant me that so quickly.
He paused and drifted his hand to my chin and brushed his thumb against my cheekbones.
"I refused to have any male even my self call my mate by that name." I heard the anger in his voice. Was he remembering all the times he called me that.
Quickly I pushed his hand away from my face.
"I am not your mate. I am not your possession." I said.
Nikoli glared at me as I tried to stand myself up. The loud and harsh tone of my voice only made my head hurt worse.
"I never said you were a possession."
"Alpha—"
"Nik," he corrected me this time.
"I am not calling you that," I said.
I was stunned no one was on a familiar tones with him outside the omega and beta. His berserker Miles got away with it as a joke but it usually lead to a fight.
"My mate is familiar with me." He said sternly.
"I am not your mate, Alpha," I said trying not to shout. Headache aside I did not want anyone to find me here alone with the leader of our tribe. This would give others incentive to pursue me in lewd activities.
"I am not your luna," I repeated myself gaining ground.
However Nikoli challenged me. He moved closer I could feel my back press against the wall of bed. He was close enough to lightly rub his nose against my neck. A gesture of kindness and vulnerabilityand I had no choice but to stay still. Not because he was the alpha of out tribe but because my body refuse to cooperate with me.
If this is what it was like to be the LUNA to Alpha Nikoli, I knew I would not survive.