The Triplets And Their Mysterious Mate

Water

Calista POV

I walked to the hotel room. When they said "Same floor," they really meant it. The door in my room connected their luxurious suite to mine, a stark reminder of our entanglement. After Tate's words at the club, it all started to make sense. I may not know much about their kind, but I understand the concept of mate bonds. It's an instant attraction, a craving for connection.

But what I despise about it is the forced nature of these bonds. Whether it be through magic or some other means, these creatures are compelled to be together. It's not love. And now, I find myself stuck with three mixed breeds, three royal mixed breeds who are hunting me. They claim I'm their f*****g Mate. Seriously, why? Why did I deserve this? Yes, I seem to attract trouble, but this punishment is beyond comprehension.

Not only do I have to constantly run and stay vigilant to avoid capture, but now I have to deal with three horny mixed breeds. Three incredibly hot guys who have invaded my thoughts and won't let go. The worst part is, I can feel it. Sirens feel bonds. But I have to ignore it. Even if my mother told me I would find my partner one day and they could keep me safe, she was wrong. If they discover what I am, they'll trap me, kill me, or imprison me. They won't prioritize me over their status and life, especially when their mission is to find and capture the one and only sea monster.

I walked to the bed, its plushness enveloping me as I fell back onto it. Damn, it was comfortable. But I can't indulge in this luxury. I need to leave now. Yet, my body refuses to budge, rooted in place by an invisible force.

I'm completely screwed. I turned and buried my face in the softness of the pillow, muffling my scream. The fabric pressed against my skin, suffocating me, as if it could erase the chaos swirling inside my head. The room felt stifling.

I contemplated turning myself in. It sickened me how creatures reveled in the idea of using my powers to unleash havoc upon the world. It was a sick desire, but part of me, well, most of me, craved to make everyone suffer as I had suffered. I despised how they saw me as a dangerous weapon before ever getting to know me. It infuriated me.

And now, these damn triplets had entered the picture, complicating everything. My mind was made up, but after spending just a few hours with them, doubt began to creep in. I couldn't have them, I repeated to myself, trying to reinforce the resolve I had initially felt. But the mere thought of being with all three of them invaded my mind, refusing to be silenced. It was madness, absolute insanity.

I let out another frustrated scream into the pillow, my body trembling with the intensity of my emotions. My skin felt itchy, a telltale sign that I needed to return to the ocean soon. But I had just been there earlier, and now the wolves would add to the chaos. My stress was wreaking havoc, making it difficult to maintain my human form.

I rolled off the bed, my chest heaving, and reached for my bag. Opening it, I pulled out a water bottle filled with seawater. I made my way to the bathroom and poured it over my skin, feeling the coolness and the familiar scent of the ocean enveloping me. It calmed my body, if only temporarily. Tomorrow, I would have no choice but to return to the ocean, even if just for a little while.

Exhausted, I stumbled back to the bed, pulling the covers over me. I closed my eyes, hoping to find some solace in sleep before facing those three again.

___________

The blaring hotel room alarm jolted me awake, causing me to shoot up in bed. I hadn't set it, so it must have been one of the triplets, probably Cade. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I sat up and tried to focus. The clock read 9am - I had three hours before I needed to be at the pub. And I had agreed to meet up with the triplets.

Interrupting my thoughts, there was a knock on the door. "Damn," I muttered as I walked towards it. I looked through the peephole and saw not one, but all three of them standing outside. I swore under my breath, took a deep breath, and opened the door. "Morning," I muttered. They all stood in silence for a moment.

"Get dressed and meet us in our suite," Cade finally said. I had removed my pants but slept in my bikini. Were they really going to be fussy over me being in swimwear? I closed the door, walked to my bag, put on a clean bikini, my work shirt, and pants. Then, I went to their door. It was cracked, so I pushed it open.

"Morning," Dean said. Tate was on the couch, looking half dead, and Cade was busy reading something.

"So, did you need to tell me anything more about collecting info?" I asked.

"Do you have a cell?" Cade asked.

"No," I responded.

"You don't have a phone?" Dean said, shocked.

"I have no need to make calls," I responded.

"Tate, give her yours. Text us anything out of the normal you see. We have class, but we will respond fast," Cade said as Tate sat up and tossed me his phone.

"You really think you're going to catch this creature?" I asked.

"If they are here, yes. It's best to get them taken care of and fast," Dean said.

"You aren't going to go kill it, right?" I asked, wanting to see if I could get more out of them.

"We don't want to, but we will if need be. All I know is this creature is dangerous, so only gather information. Don't go chasing any leads," Dean said.

"I'll be fine," I responded.

"Info only," he repeated.

"Let me guess, it's because I'm your mate. You're worried," I said.

"So, you admit it now?" Tate said, standing up.

"I'm only saying what you told me. I made myself clear to you already. It changes nothing. No attachments. Look, I don't want to hurt you three. You've been nice to me. But I can't be your mate," I said to them. I needed to make sure the air was clear about that.

Tate's voice carried a hint of desperation as he said, "I refuse to accept your rejection of being with us until the week is up."

"We won't force you, but you could at least give us a chance." Dean chimed in, his tone pleading.

I let out a weary sigh, knowing that even if I declined, they would persist. "Leave her alone about it," Cade interjected, casting a protective glance in my direction. "You know the truth, and that's good enough. We will respect whatever choice you make, but give it the week. I believe that is fair," he reasoned.

"Okay, I will," I relented with a sigh.

"The pub seems to get busy, with visitors flocking to the beach and all. I'll let you know all I hear. There's always a mix of different species there." I said.

"You could tell I was a shifter. Can you tell other species apart?"Dean asked. I hesitated, aware that I was already treading on thin ice with them. Humans couldn't discern the differences, but it was too late for me to lie.

"Yeah, I can," I admitted.

Dean took a step closer, his curiosity piqued. I instinctively held my hands up, creating a barrier between us. "Personal space, come no closer," I firmly stated. Tate couldn't help but taunt his brothers, laughing from his spot in the room. "Looks like I'm the only one who got to get real close to you," he teased.

Trying to defuse the situation, I quickly explained, "I'm just very aware of those around me. I've learned from working in many places. That's all."

Dean eventually gave up, but I could sense their lingering doubt. "If you need nothing more, I'll be on my way," I said, even though it was daytime. I needed to reach the ocean, and luckily, I knew a hidden spot where I could ensure no one else was around. I had to be careful.

Swiftly leaving the hotel room, I made sure the triplets weren't following me this time. As I ventured down the road, I navigated through a few paths that led behind buildings and desolate spots. Once I confirmed that I was in the clear, I opened my mouth and let out a soft, melodic song. The sky transformed from a bright blue to a deep, ominous darkness. Thunder rumbled, and rain poured down in torrents. I couldn't keep relying on this ability to create storms, but it had helped me stay hidden and access the ocean when needed. However, if I used it too frequently, someone would surely catch on that these storms were not natural.

As I cautiously stepped out into the open, I observed people scurrying back to seek cover. I continued my path towards the ocean, trying to appear inconspicuous. Arriving at my usual spot, I hastily removed my work shirt and pants, carefully concealing them amidst a cluster of rocks. However, before I could immerse myself in the water, I sensed something amiss. The air around me became charged with an eerie energy, a sensation I had experienced before, although not recently.

Demons lurked nearby. They wouldn't reveal themselves unless they were searching for something, and I was certain that I was their target. Seeking refuge in the small area where I had hidden my clothing, I braced myself for their presence. Submerging directly into the water would only expose me. After several tense minutes, I observed a dew men and a woman emerging onto the beach. Though they appeared human, I could see through their disguises - they were demons.

Their true forms were dark shadows, signifying their status as servants to higher beings. "She is here," one of them declared. My heart raced within my chest. While I believed I could confront them, given my strength and the power of my voice, I had avoided direct confrontations, as I was warned that fighting would only attract attention. "She won't escape this time. Although she may be hidden for now, her true identity will soon be revealed," another demon proclaimed.

Another demon laughed mockingly, their voice echoing through the air. "There is no escape for her now," they proclaimed. Their words were met with silence as they tossed a peculiar bottle onto the sandy beach, causing it to shatter with a sudden explosion. I instinctively covered my mouth, feeling the shockwave ripple through the air. As the bottle burst, a massive cloud engulfed the town, obscuring everything in its path.

The demon's twisted face lit up with a sinister glow, exuding a sense of triumph. "Poor thing won't maintain her human guise for long," one of them sneered, their words dripping with malice. A searing sensation crawled over my skin, their dark magic interfering with my very essence. My chest heaved, each breath a struggle as the air grew thick and suffocating.

"Keep an eye on this beach. She will be coming often. That potion will prevent her from remaining human for more than a day at a time," one spoke.

Desperation washed over me as I yearned for the soothing embrace of the ocean's waters. Without it I would be left vulnerable. A glimmer of hope emerged as small pockets of water trickled towards me, offering a momentary respite. I brushed my trembling hand against the cool liquid, finding temporary relief. But I knew I couldn't rely on this fleeting comfort forever. Unable to shift into my true form, survival became a daunting challenge.

I now can't return to the ocean or I will surely be caught. I waited, hidden, as time ticked by over a few hours. I was now late for my work shift as well.

Finally, I emerged from my hiding spot, feeling a mixture of relief and urgency. I hastily slipped on my clothing and made my way towards the job. The phone that the triplets had given me buzzed in my pocket. I glanced at the screen and saw over 50 missed calls and a whole slew of messages. It buzzed again, and I saw Dean’s name on the caller ID. With a sigh, I answered, holding the phone up to my ear. "What's up?" I said.

"Where are you?" he snapped over the phone. "On my way to my job. Can I help you with something?" I asked.

"We've been calling you for hours. Something strange happened. Skip work and come back to the hotel. Our class is out," he demanded.

"No can do. I have a job to do," I simply said. He growled in frustration on the other end of the line.

"I'll see you three later tonight when I'm off. Oh, and you said to let you know if anything strange happened. You may want to keep an eye out for demons. I almost ran right into a small crowd of them," I said and hung up the phone. It buzzed again, but I simply put it back in my pocket.

Maybe the triplets can be of some use to me. Maybe they can handle the demon problem and that will keep them busy. I walked up to the pub door and entered, ready to start my shift. Luckily, even when late, they were welcoming of me working.