Chapter Seven: No Where to Go

It was pouring and raining outside when Zoe left the temple. She had been banished, so as protocol, there was a bag for her packed sitting outside the temple door. They did not care that it was storming when they tossed it out. 

She was not given a lot, but she did not have time to look through it. She needed to find shelter. She thought about running to her hideout, but with the rain the terrain would be harder for her to make the trip back down. 

When the rain hit, small mudslides would be come a hazard during the storm. Before she left, Elder Grace did give her some advice. There was one place she could seek shelter, but she would have to swallow her pride. 

She shivered as her gown was drenched and the tail was muddy and sticking to her legs when she walked. The rainwater combined here with her tears as she tried to quickly venture into the village. 

So much for there being enough love for all walks of life. Zoe thought bitterly as she continued to walk along the paved roads. She was dirty, soaking wet, and cold. Zoe had to muster up the strength to make it to sanctuary. 

Elder Grace explained to Zoe before the temple excommunicated her. 

"Listen to me dear and listen well. The temple has made it clear you are not welcomed but you can seek sanctuary from the coven in the village. I know you will be hesitant but it is the only way you will survive the night." Grace and Zoe looked behind them to see the High Priestess and two ordinants escorting her towards the door. 

"This storm is going to take a turn for the worst soon. Go quickly." Grace said as the two ordinants opened the door and held their staffs near Zoe's face. 

Zoe did not look back as she grabbed the bag and made a run for down the mountain. Even though her shoes were not meant for the weather, she pushed herself until she made it to the bottom. The Moon Goddess must have been on her side since she did not fall. 

"Swallow your pride, Zoe." She told herself as she began to knock on the door. Her hands trembled from the cold and the fear. 

The door opened, revealing a shirtless Nikoli shocked at the woman at his doorstep. 

"Zoe, why are you?" He questioned.

"Please … I seek sanctuary." Zoe said. She did not have a home. Sheh felt her dignity empty out as she began to cry. 

He swung the door open and moved out of the way. 

"Zoe get in out of the rain," he said. 

Nikoli gestured as Zoe slowly walked in. She was shocked at the Alpha not turning her away. 

He left the room and came back with a blanket and a bunch of folded clothes. "Here change into this and wrap yourself up. I was getting the fire ready."

 Nikoli quickly walked out, leaving Zoe to change, but she heard a banging sound that she could only think was the Alpha slamming something. She looked down at the clothes he placed on the table and bit her lips. When Nikoli walked back in he was shocked to see that she had not changed. 

"Is something wrong?" He asked. 

"Um…can you ….can you unzip me please?" Zoe said, hiding her face in her wet hair. She turned her back to the man as he lifted her wet hair. 

He grabbed the zipper on the back of the gown and pulled it down. Zoe felt the dress loosen up around her form. She trembled at his touch but made no moves. Nikoli was still holding her hair as he placed a kiss on her neck. 

As quickly as he came to her, he backed away. Nikoli cleared his throat and went to the fireplace. He opened the gate and began to sort through the soot with an instrument that Zoe could not place. 

"While I get the fire going you can go take a shower if you would like. The bathroom is straight down the hall on the left," Nikoli said. He kept his back to the priestess.

Zoe nodded but realized that there was no point Nikoli was tending to the fireplace. She walked past the man and down the hall. She saw different pictures displayed with different figures. 

One picture hanging on the chestnut colored wall was an older gentleman that had his arm wrapped around a young Nikoli's shoulder. Both of them looked like they were laughing when the photo was taken. 

With similar features, Zoe could only guess that this was Nikoli's father; the Alpha of the pack before Nikoli took over. However, Zoe could not remember his name.

"If you stay in the clothes any longer you will get sick." Nikoli called to Zoe, snapping her out of her daze. She quickly headed to the bathroom and closed the door. 

Zoe walked over to the enormous tub and noticed that the bathroom had both a tub and a shower. She debated which to use. 

She had been running and was too tired to stand in the shower. But she did not think she could stay in a bath. She opted for the shower because it would be quicker. She pulled the glass door open, turning on the water with the faucet handle on the wall.

She took her arms out of the dress and let it call to the floor. She grabbed a washcloth that was in the glass cabinet behind her. She pulled the door back open and step inside. 

As the fresh hot water hit her, Zoe began to slide to the floor. The realization of the situation became overstimulating. Zoe was forced out of her home. She was no longer a priestess of the temple anymore. She had no one. 

She put her head on her knees and began to cry. 

This is too much. They kicked me out without a second thought. Zoe thought. Her mother literally called her a disgrace because of something that the Mood Goddess had destined. Zoe's anxiety rose like bile in her throat. 

She knew that she could not stay in too much longer. Werewolves had heighten senses and there was no doubt that the Alpha could hear her even with the shower running. However Zoe could not bring herself to move from the position she was in.

Her thoughts began to blur. 

Why am I even here? 

She leaned her head against the shower wall. 

I should just leave and let fate take over. 

Before Zoe could think further, the glass door opened and Nikoli stepped in. He flinshed when he felt the scorching temperature on his bare back. He turned the water to a lower temp and sighed. 

Zoe looked up to see Nikoli's eyes were pure darkness. She flinched away but Nikoli pulled her into his chest. 

"Stop your thoughts, mate. I'm here and I promise everything will be alright. I'll fix this. Just please," he growled.

Zoe was speechless at her Alpha's actions. She did not think that anyone would care for her the way he was. 

Maybe I have Nikoli all wrong. She thought as she gazed into his eyes. 

"Don't think like that," he said. Zoe looked up at him in shock. 

He turned off the water and helped them both up off the floor. He stepped out of the shower and grabbed a handful of towels. He wrapped Zoe's hair in one.

Instinct took over Zoe as she lifted both arms for Nikoli to wrap another towel around her waist. Zoe noticed that another towel was still in his hands.

Nikoli cleared his thoughts and Zoe quickly turned around. He chuckled as he pulled his wet clothes off and wrapped the towel around his waist. He opened the door and walked out. 

Nikoli left Zoe to her own devices. He went to a door across from the bathroom and closed the door behind him. Zoe headed for the main room and saw the clothes Nikoli had given her was still sitting on the coffee table. 

She grabbed them and began to inspect them. She had expected clothes large for her frame, but these were only a size bigger than her normal clothes. They were women's clothes. 

She put on the white t-shirt and slid on the black slacks. She noticed that there were no undergarments in the pile. It truly did not pase her because there were times at the temple that she did not wear anything underneath. 

 She looked up when she heard a crackling sound. Zoe smiled when she noticed that Nikoli had gotten the fire roaring while she was in the bath. 

She could not help but smile at the kindness that he had been giving her.