**Erick's POV**
I woke up startled by Rhian thrashing around in my bed. Goodness, she must be having a nightmare. I cross the room closing the distance in two steps. I reach for her hoping to pull her out of it.
"Rhian, Rhian," I called her name as she continued to fight. "Rhian, wake up!"
In an instant, her eyes flashed open, her eyes dilated and crazed with fear I could tell she hadn't quite put together where she was.
"Rhian it's me, Erick. You're safe, You're safe it's ok. I kept repeating myself as I clutch her body tightly. Triggered at seeing her so vulnerable and terrified. "It was a nightmare. Everything is fine I've got you now."
As her breathing started to regulate and her pulse slowed she finally spoke. "I don't think it was a nightmare." She hesitated before continuing, "I think it was a memory. It felt so real like I was watching it happen to me."
"What do you mean?"
"It was like I saw myself when I was confronting my stepmother. It felt so familiar like my body remembered it happening but my brain is foggy. It was like the dream cleared the fog." She was safely in my arms but I could see the confusion on her face as she tried to put together the puzzle pieces.
Panic washed across her face, "If it was real, I'm not the one that is in danger you are!"
"ME? We didn't even know each other until this morning how could I have been a part of a memory of yours?"
"You weren't, but in the nightmare, Eliza wasn't actually Eliza. Cyrus had called her Maeve she claimed to be some sort of Goddess. It isn't a name I recognize so I don't think she is a part of our history. She said she was cursed to live over and over again in the mortal world until she took revenge on her nephew."
"She only knew her nephew had a powerful connection to me. That is why she murdered my father, he was the only family I had left. It didn't work though. It led her to believe it must be my future mate. Who else would I have a strong connection with?"
"I didn't know you then but now that I have found you she is going to come after you. She took away my memories because I never would have been willing to accept I had a mate if I knew their life was in danger."
"I would have remained alone the rest of my life versus finding him and losing him. If she finds you and knows you are my mate she will kill you." She buried her head into my shoulder sobbing. "I won't lose you, I can't lose you."
I pulled her away just enough to tilt her chin up so I could look into her eyes. "Then we will stop her, together! I don't understand how I could be her nephew. I don't know why I am suddenly in the center of all these prophecies. A few months ago I didn't even know humans weren't alone in this world."
I stared into her eyes still glistening from the tears she cried trying to convey as much strength and confidence behind my voice as I could muster. "If I killed her once, we will kill her again. I am never going anywhere. I am never leaving you."
After a few more moments of her searching my face, it was almost like it something click and she accepted my determination to stay, no matter the challenge. She leaned in and pressed her lips to mine.
It was not soft or gentle but like something in her was impetuously drawn to kiss me. It felt like lightning sparking throughout my body. Her hands swept up across my shoulders with a hand on my neck and another on the back of my head she held on tightly are lips pressed together in an urgent need.
I hesitated I wanted nothing more than to kiss her but was this the right time. Was I simply taking advantage of her vulnerable state if I pushed further? I assuaged my worries by only moving my arms around her to hold her closer but not pushing to further deepen the kiss.
It was like the wind was sucked out of my body when she without warning pulled away. "Wait, did you say prophecies, as in plural? What else is going on?"
"According to Doc, the reason I had no idea about werewolves was that my mother wasn't a wolf. He said my age and birth and mixed bloodline coincide with a prophecy given by the Moon Goddess herself. He believes my parents were murdered after a group of rogues was coming after me."
"His brother, our previous Alpha had received a warning from the Moon Goddess and arrived just in time to save me. Unfortunately, he did not make it in time to save my parents. Knowing that my life would always be in jeopardy until I could fulfill my destiny he hid me among humans."
"He changed my identity and I grew up in the human world. It wasn't until my 25th birthday a few months ago that I shifted for the first time. This was another piece of the prophecy and though the previous alpha has since died, Doc, his brother is determined that I am the future Alpha that will unite all creatures."
Shock and awe registered across her face. "Wait a minute, are you serious? I always thought that was just a story we grew up with. It has been so long that the prophecy is regarded as more of a fairytale at this point."
Slightly embarrassed I looked down at the bed avoiding eye contact. "I'm not particularly convinced that is true. I mean I don't even fully understand what it is to be a werewolf let alone lead and unite everyone. I am fairly certain it's a coincidence."
"Don't say that," It was her turn to grab my face forcing eye contact. "The Goddess blessed you for a reason. It is an honor. Besides, if it's true it could be why you are the answer to both prophecies."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I have never heard of a Goddess Maeve in werewolf lore. We need to find out where she comes from. But, if she is a Goddess and you are related to her that leads me to believe you may be a God as well, or at least a demigod."
"If we can find out what culture recognizes her as a Goddess maybe we can find out the other half of your history."
"That would still fulfill the Uniter prophecy, and that would make sense as to why you would unite all creatures. You aren't a pureblood werewolf, you are a partial God!"