*Henry*
The fireflies buzzed and twinkled in the thick forest, encircling the two lovers beneath them. The forest was quiet except for the whistling wind, creating mood music for the couple below. The night sky seemed to be shining brighter than normal, as if shining specifically for Mae and Henry, celebrating their love.
Mae leaned back into Henry's arms as they gazed up at the moon and stars. Her blue eyes seemed to soak in the glow of them. Henry slowly dragged his fingers up and down Mae's arm, relishing in the delicious feeling of her delicate skin.
He savored every touch of her soft, milky white skin. It seemed to glisten in the glittering lights of the fireflies and the moon. Mae snuggled up closer to him and nestled into his neck.
“I wish we could stay here like this forever," Mae whispered. Her words floated with the wind like a silent prayer to the moon goddess.
She almost felt as though their hearts were being sewn together, as entwined as their bodies. Mae felt herself yearn for their ceremony when they could know for sure that they were mates and put their fears to bed forever.
“Soon we will, my love. Once the ceremony happens, nothing will be able to separate us," Henry answered, squeezing her hand just a little.
He spoke the words as if his belief alone could make them come true. He glanced again at the bright moon, knowing the goddess wouldn't disappoint him.
“How can you be so sure?" The inflection in her voice stayed smooth and calm, but Henry knew a part of her was still worried. Mae remained perfectly still, pressed against Henry, and he tried to hold onto the feeling of it.
“Why would we fall so deeply in love like this if we weren't meant to be? Why would the goddess give us these feelings so deeply if we weren't mates? You'll see as soon as the ceremony comes. We are destined for each other. Love like this is once in a lifetime, Mae. This must be what it feels like to be mated. I can't imagine it could get better than this."
Mae sat up and turned to look at Henry. Her cheeks were flushed, and there was the smallest curve on the edges of her mouth. Her sharp eyes seemed to look right through him, and he felt naked under her glance. But he didn't mind. He wanted Mae to see him, all of him, and know him deeper than anyone else ever could.
“You look surprised," Henry stated, a bit confused by her expression. Mae shook her head while her smile grew.
“No. I know you love me. I just love hearing you say it and sound so confident," Mae smiled and giggled, sounding a bit like a schoolgirl.
Henry brushed his hand across her cheek before leaning forward and kissing her softly. The heat and passion started to rise between them as their kiss grew. Mae reached out a hand and placed it on Henry's thigh as she moved closer to him.
Henry moaned lightly but then pulled away, turned his face down, and away from her. He tightened one hand into a fist to try to control his impulses. A strong part of him wanted to take her right now and mate with her, but he knew he couldn't. They had to do things right.
“What's wrong?" Mae asked, her cheeks blushing with a different emotion. She looked down, trying to hide the new glistening in her eyes, but he could see it. He knew she had no reason to doubt him, but she couldn't help feeling hurt anytime he pulled away from her in such a manner, no matter how often he tried to reassure her.
“Nothing. I love you so much, Mae. I just fear if I continued to kiss you, I wouldn't be able to stop. Everything within me craves you, all of you," he whispered, like a lover's secret.
In this spot, this isolated patch of land in the neutral zone, all of their secret hopes and desires for their love seemed possible. He tried to hold onto that feeling and trust they would be together and unite their kingdoms.
“Oh, Henry! I can hardly wait for our ceremony, for our wedding. I can't stand not being with you all the time. It's getting harder to sneak off to you and even worse when I have to leave you." Mae looked back in the direction of her home, where her pack was waiting.
He was certain at least April, her sister, would be up waiting for her to return. He thought a part of her might be worried that her father might still be up as well…
Henry brushed a strand of hair away from Mae's face before holding her cheek in his hand. “Ah, Mae. Just a few more weeks, and then we will never have to separate again." Henry kissed her deeper this time and growled lowly at her delicious taste.
He grunted and forced himself to pull away from her. “You should head back. I wouldn't want your father to worry about you. I'm sure April is having a hard enough time as it is keeping them distracted from your absence."
Mae nodded and hesitantly stood up. Henry also climbed to his feet and held her hands in his. The two of them locked eyes for a long moment as if they could truly communicate just through their stares. Mae smiled again and melted into Henry's touch.
“Please know this won't be forever. Soon, we'll be mated and married. Soon, we'll be together, and nothing will ever keep us apart. Our love is stronger than any force that might try to keep us separated. Trust me."
“I love you too, Henry. I'd wait forever for you if I had to," she muttered softly.
“You won't need to wait that long, I promise," Henry smiled weakly and pulled her in close. He kissed her cheek and the side of her head before silently praying to the Moon Goddess that Mae might indeed be his mate.
“Go now. I don't want anyone to worry," Henry demanded.
Mae gave him one last adoring look before running off into the woods toward her pack. Henry stood still watching her fade away into the distance.
Henry let his body collapse back on the ground and stared up at the moon. He put his arms behind his head and tried not to dwell on the aching in his heart that started the moment Mae was out of view.
He sighed heavily, and then Henry closed his eyes for a moment and tried to imagine his wedding day with Mae, after they had been mated. He smiled quietly to himself.
“Oh, come now, Henry. It can't be that bad. She hasn't even been gone for five minutes. Though for a while there, I thought she'd never leave."
Henry sat up abruptly and turned in the direction of the familiar voice.
How had he been completely oblivious to the piercing blue eyes spying on him through the trees?
As he glared behind the trees, he saw the pretty blonde the voice belonged to. He didn't feel up to dealing with her in his current state of mind.
“What are you doing here, Circe?" Henry grumbled as he stood. He brushed the dirt off his pants and started walking away before she could answer.
“I'm here for you, of course. To make sure you're alright." Circe moved gracefully but quickly until she was close enough to reach out and grab Henry's arm. She held on tightly to him and fluttered her eyes.
“Why wouldn't I be okay?" Henry barked, pulling his arm away from her. “It's not like I'm in any kind of danger being around Mae," he answered with a scoff.
He kept his eyes on her as if she might launch herself at him and attack. With the way she fawned after him, Henry wouldn't be the least bit surprised.
Circe clicked her tongue and gave Henry a concerned look. She maneuvered around him, like a snake coiling around its prey.
“See, that's exactly what I'm worried about. You are awfully attached to this woman who may or may not be your mate–"
“She is. She will be my mate."
*Circe*
Circe smiled and gave him a doubtful look. It was just too easy to play on his fears, but nothing seemed to turn his heart away from Mae. Circe couldn't understand what he could possibly see in her or what Mae could offer him that Circe couldn't.
The jealous monster grew stronger inside of her and seemed to take over all control of Circe's words and actions. She would have Henry; she was sure of it.
“So certain and confident. What will you do when she's not? Would you ditch your mate to be with this woman you love?" Circe crossed her arms behind her back and smiled, baiting Henry to argue with her.
He paused for a moment and tightened his hands into fists. Her sweet smile turned into a wicked smirk as she realized she was under his skin. Henry shook off the fear and glared at her.
“What do you want, Circe? Did you come here just to piss me off and mess with my head? Mae is my mate. You'll see," Henry practically spat the words at her and narrowed his eyes to slits.
“I suppose soon we'll all see. I just hope you're right, for your sake and hers. Can you imagine what it would do to her if you weren't her mate? She'd have to watch you with someone else, marry someone else. It would crush her." Circe's words came out quietly, slipping into Henry's ear like a dangerous poison.
He stumbled in fear for a moment. Circe had heard their conversation. She knew he had spent so much time fighting that idea, convincing himself just as much as Mae that wouldn't happen.
“She is my truest love. That means something. We will find a way." Without another word or waiting for Circe's response Henry stomped off into the woods.
Circe gazed after him and let the rage build inside of her. She slammed her hands on her hips and tried to imagine what she could do. She was tired of trying to woo him to her. She needs to do something more drastic to capture his attention.
“If I can't have you, no one can," she mumbled after him.
Somewhere in the distance cooed a mystical owl, and the wheels in Circe's head started to turn in a new direction. She glanced over to the east and could sense the call of magic from the mountain. She could feel a plan starting to form, and a wide smirk spread across her face.
