A thunderous growl awakened the entire sleeping forest. Celeste and Lucien woke up abruptly with Lucien clutching his mate sensing danger.

"MEDUSA!" Pure rage radiated from the voice making the frightened couple get up hurriedly to find the lavender eyed princess Rhysand was roaring the name of.

The moon appeared hazy in the cobalt sky of the dawn. Animals fled to their shelters seeking comfort from the predatory aura filling the atmosphere.

Rhysand was standing in the middle of the living room making the place seemingly shrink in size, his hair messy from sleep and chest heaving heavily. His hands were clutching a yellow piece of parchment with the insignia of Medusa making Lucien's eyes widen.

Rhysand lips parted, aurum irises zeroing on Lucien.

"She left me." The yellow paper fell down from his grasp onto the earth, Rhysand's angry facade breaking like shrads of glass.

"She is gone." He took a sharp intake of breath finally his mind accepting the absence of her, his knees buckled making him fall to the ground on them, he grasped his hair tightly unable to understand a thing.

"It was her destiny Rhy-"

"I DONT FUCKING CARE!" he snarled glaring at Lucien with a heartbreaking expression.

"My Medusa is not a damn bait. You are ready to use her as a escape-goat but I am not. "

His golden eyes were carnal... wild, sanity slipping slowly. He got up from his knees, his eyes unfocused and confused as he stumbled to gather his weapons.

"She is going to be fine, I am going to get her."

"Rhysand-"

"She is well, there is nothing bad going to happen."

A tear trailed down Celeste's cheek followed by others as she realized Rhysand was far from consolable. He wasn't listening to a word they said not even bothering to look at them. She looked at Lucien who stared at his brother with utmost sympathy.

Rhysand strolled the place reaching the door in four long strides and threw it open only to see an old woman standing infront of him outside the house, her fist raised to knock the door.

Her clothes were layered, green sleeves covering her frail arms indicated that she might be a wanderer passerby but the way her aquamarine blue eyes lightened with mirth suggested otherwise.

It was almost odd for anyone to come so late at their house, the sun hasn't risen yet. Also nobody usually ventured into this deep side of the forest...it was strange. Celeste felt goosebumps rising on her pale skin.

Rhysand tried rounding off the woman to go into the forest but her voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Searching for somebody?" And now she sure have attracted the attention of the angry Lycan.

" Yes" he whispered searching her eyes, his posture rigid and cautious.

"So am I...." She released a sad smile.
"And I am certain that I found them."

His fists clenched thinking that she might be one of the spies of King Valium. "Who.are.you?"

"I will tell you who I am Rhysand, first tell me who you are?" The couple at the door watched incredulously as the scene unfolded infront of them.

"How do you know my name?" His tone was calm, ironically too quite to be soothing, it was like poison was dripping slowly.

"I know you since your birth, the question is, do you?" She took out a dagger making Celeste gasp.

"H-How did you?" She rushed out towards the woman, examining the weapon in her fragile fingers.

"Athelia" she whispered looking into the woman's eyes her own eyes widening. Rhysand looked into the eyes of woman exhaling softly with relief.

******************

Celeste was staring at Moon goddess Persephone as she made herself comfortable on the dining chair.

Even saying she was exquisite was an insult to her beauty. The goddess looked like she had never aged a day after 20.

"Can I say you are freaking sexy?" Lucien who had been observing everyone with keen eyes spluttered his tea at that.

"If I had been lesbian, I would definitely... scratch that your presence makes me Lesbian." Persephone laughed at that, her melodious voice made Celeste sigh again.

"She is our mother Luna! What the hell are you saying?" Lucien exasperated scolding her in hushed whispers.

"Ewww no, I don't belong to earth. Firstly I am a nymph so she isn't my mother. "

"You have been awfully quiet Rhysand." Persephone spoke first time ignoring the banter of the young couple sitting beside her. She sure was amused by them but first things first.

Rhysand was standing by the window sill, looking out with agony in his eyes searching for his long gone Medusa.

"You know everything mother."

"The prophecy has started Rhysand and Medusa has chosen sides. If you are worried about her wellbeing..... Don't. She is my daughter, my own creation and I am not going to let any pathetic mortal harm her.

You are her mate because you deserve to be. She trusts you Rhysand and so do I. I can stop this war with the snap of my fingers but it isn't my fate.... It's yours."

To say be felt relief was an understatement.

"She needs to be safe."

"And she will be" Persephone replied gently then taking out Athelia from her mane putting it in his hand.

"Athelia is yours and so is Medusa. I have come here to enlighten you... you are a Lycan meant to rule the Werewolves. The fate is inevitable.

There is going to a bloodbath Rhysand, the council is strong, you need to defeat them. The blood falling on the ground should not be yours.

*************
Life just got real. And I got depressed nothing serious just my life is always blahhh. I am sorry for late update. Love you guys ❤️