Mated to the Alpha Triplets

Chapter 28: A dream, a kiss, a dance

Ottilie POV

I was back in the green oasis where I had first met the moon goddess. The grass tickled my bare feet as I strolled through a meadow of wildflowers towards a bright light. I had no idea where I was going but I felt drawn to it, my mind guiding me as if it knew something I didn't.

As I grew closer, I realised I was approaching the waterfall with my hidden cave, the goddess Selene sat on a bench in front of it smiling at me, her aura shining bright around her.

"Sit with me child, we don't have long." I sat next to her on the hard stone, a warmth radiating through me as her aura engulfed me.

"Ottilie I need you to listen," she said turning to me, clasping my hand in hers. "These dark forces, this evil that is coming, it isn't something to be joked about or forgotten about. I asked you to give the brothers a chance and you didn't, you rejected them."

I nodded quietly, unexpected tears falling from my eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry, I just don't know what I'm doing anymore, I don't know who I can trust and Damon..." I fell silent as she lifted my face up gently.

"You can trust them, Ottilie I'm already breaking all the rules by telling you this but you can trust them. Damon too, when it comes to it they will all be there to protect you and you will need them. Things are more complex than you could ever imagine, your special powers, your ability to see things that others can't, to influence things that others can't, there are forces that will kill for those powers."

"But I don't want them!" I shouted angrily, standing, my hands forming fists by my side. "I just want my parents back, I want to clear their names and I want to live a normal life!" I knew I looked childish, yelling at the sky, I hadn't yet stomped my foot but I may as well of done.

"Ottilie if you do as I have asked you to do, if you trust your mates and follow your instincts, then those things might happen eventually but I cannot stop what's coming." She looked at me a little sadly, ignoring my childish outburst.

"But you're the moon goddess, you made us all, you can do anything," I replied desperately.

"Man, beast and creature must have free will," she replied turning her back to me. I rolled my eyes, free will my arse, it seemed like a very good get-out clause for not offering to lend a helping hand.

"I saw that," she said grinning as she whipped round, "I am the moon goddess after all, I see everything," and she wriggled her head comically. "Come with me, I need to show you something before I send you back."

I followed her silently, continuing through the wildflower meadow until we reached the furthest edge.

"Be careful, if you fall in I can't save you."

I looked down and gasped immediately at the barren landscape below. Everything that was evil lay before me, war, greed, hate, death, it was as if everything I'd ever feared was happening before my very eyes.

"This is what happens when free will is stripped from us," she whispered, her eyes filling with tears, "for there to be good, there has to be evil, it is the only way."

I still didn't understand but I nodded, "can we go now please," I said, the scenes before me too disturbing to watch a second longer.

She nodded, taking my hand and leading back to the waterfall.

"Before I send you back Ottilie, I need you to promise me that you will give your mates a chance, all of them, let them protect you."

I nodded reluctantly, "but four mates is just too much, how on earth am I meant to...."my voice trailed off and I blushed, not really wanting to say out loud what I was thinking.

Selene let out a low chuckle, "I'm sure you'll work it out Ottilie and if not then I'm also fairly sure they will help you." I blushed as even filthier thoughts entered my head.

"Also my wolf, Ariana...." I stopped as she leant forward, placing a finger on my lips.

"Ariana is still there, accept them and she will return. Be careful my child, remember, if you really need me, I'll be here for you." She kissed me on the forehead and a white light flashed before everything went dark again.

I groaned, my body ached and my head felt sore. I tried to open my eyes but they seemed stuck together, I stretched as much as I could from my neck, through to my fingers and down to my toes. Whatever I was lying in was insanely comfortable. After years of essentially sleeping on hard floors, I still hadn't gotten used to this level of comfort. I forced my eyes open, wiping the sleep away with my fingers. The bright lights hurt at first and I blinked furiously, trying to get accustomed to my surroundings. As I took in what I had thought was an empty room, my heart skipped a beat as I sensed I wasn't alone, a sudden warmth filling me right through to my soul.

I turned my head and gasped as I saw Harry lying next to me.

"Harry," I breathed, he didn't move and the sudden realisation of where we were hit me all at once. The beeps of the machines next to us, the bright lights, the fact that the last thing I remembered was being in Damon's arms, his lips on my marking spot, how much I wanted him. My breathing quickened as I remembered it.

None of this explained why Harry was next to me though and why he wasn't moving. His chest had a huge bandage across it, his face look pale and sunken as if he hadn't seen the sun in months. Forcing myself to remember what Selene had told me, I took a deep breath and lifted my hand up to stroke his face. Sparks flowed through me as I touched him, my aches and pains melting away.

"Harry," I tried again, wriggling myself up the bed, careful not to dislodge any of the wires coming out of him. "Wake up, please." I begged. Concern filling me as he lay silent. I leaned over him, lips hovering over his before I kissed him softly. My whole body melted as the sparks turned into fireworks, I'd tried to deny it but I'd missed him, I'd missed them all. I pulled back and waited, watching with apprehension to see if it had worked.

"So you missed me then," Harry smiled, his eyes still closed, "I knew you would." His eyes fluttered open and my breath caught in my throat. "Hi Princess."

"Harry," his name caught in my throat. "What happened?"

"It's a long story," he said wryly, groaning slightly as he tried to sit up. "Goddess why do they always keep these brights lights on, even in the dead of night." I looked at the time on the machine to see it was 3am, I guess that explained why there was no-one else around.

"Wait I know why I'm all wired up to these machines but what happened to you, why are you here?" Harry looked at me urgently, pulling me close and at the same time scanning me for injuries.

"I don't know," I admitted, "One minute I was fine," I blushed thinking about it, "and the next, well, blinding pain and then I woke up here, I'm not even sure where "here" is."

We lay in silence for a minute or two, his eyes taking me in.

"I missed you," he breathed. "I'm so sorry Ottilie, for what my parents said, for Tanya, for everything."

I buried my head in his chest, unable to meet his eyes properly. "I know," I mumbled, "I'm sorry for running, I should have stayed, you aren't your parents, none of you are." I could feel his heart beat quicken, his breathing shallow.

"Ottilie I have no parents, not any more," I raised my head to see his swirling eyes. "You are my future, you and my brothers, you're all I need."

I decided not to mention Damon, figuring that would probably ruin the moment. I leant forward to kiss him softly on the cheek, his eyes brightening as I did.

"Ottilie," he said, "I'm not sure I can stand but if you can, do you think you can turn the bloody lights off?"

I smiled, "Sure." I sat up slowly and swung my legs out of bed, before standing on shaking legs. I was wobbly but it wasn't too bad, I just felt tired really, like I'd had too much sleep.

"Easy Princess, I'm not sure how easy it will be to catch you if you fall this time."

I rolled my eyes and switched off the lights, the room filled with moonlight. I made my way gingerly back to the bed, sliding under the blankets close to Harry, his touch instantly calming.

"We should call someone," I yawned, suddenly exhausted, resting my head on his chest, careful to avoid the bandages.

"Can we wait until morning? I just want it to be us for a few moments more." Harry kissed the top of my head and put an arm around me. I knew what he meant, whatever was coming could wait until morning.

We lay in silence, the regular beat of his heart lulling me to sleep. I hadn't yet fully accepted him, not all of them but after hearing what Selene had to say, I was willing to give them a chance. By opening my heart just a little the feelings that had emerged were overwhelming.

"I love you Harry," I mumbled, unable to stop myself as sleep overtook me.

"I love you too Princess,"