"I don't understand what a mating bond could do to subdue a female," I admitted.
"Well, the mark is a connection between two souls. It is a ritual that means two wolves will be together forever.
"That makes the wolves only want each other. Only love each other. Only live for each other," he said.
"But when you mark someone without loving them and that person does not mark you back, you are trapping them, using their instincts against them.
"But the person that is not marked, when they don't feel any love towards the other, can live a practically unaffected life."
"That sounds awful!"
It did honestly sound horrible, and it provided even more evidence of what a horrible person Everest was.
"It was, even for me. As an unmated wolf..." he corrected himself,
"When I used to be one, I never imagined the pain these women had to go through.
"And now that I know what it is to be mated, what it is to want someone so badly, I cannot imagine having to share you," he admitted with an honest smile.
"And we haven't even consumed the mating bond. I have a feeling that would be a lot worse."
I blushed slightly as I tried to summarize.
"So I don't have to bite you because you bit me with love?"
I laughed at how weird that sounded.
"Mark," he corrected. "And no, there is no need to.
"But I would really like it if you do."
I wanted to ask why, but he launched into answering my final question.
"Now, before I explain why Damien and Selene marked each other again, I think I should explain what happens to a male when he is mated.
"This will not paint me in a very good light, but keep in mind , we can't control it."
Already a promising start.
"The mating bond is as old as our wolf spirits are, as old as our instincts. And it can turn us into animals if we are not careful.
"The first few months can be hard. We can become... possessive, and easily jealous of another male glancing at our mate the wrong way.
"I have never experienced it myself..." he paused and took another deep breath,
"Obviously. But I've seen others go through it, and it's not pretty.
"You have to understand, even the best of us turn into beasts."
I nodded.
I could understand why this happened now that I had become a full werewolf.
My instincts were just as heightened as my senses.
It was natural animal behavior.
Yet, there was something that I still did not comprehend.
"But Damien and Selene have been mated for more than a few months, and he seems fine with Selene having contact with other males now."
Harlan smiled.
"Yes, well..."
He suddenly stared at me with so much love that I could feel my heart melting.
"There are certain situations where we become more protective.
"When our mate is hurt, defenseless, or the worst of all, pregnant."
He laughed.
"I cannot explain to you how much self-control it takes for Damien to allow Selene to be near any of us.
"Mainly because it's no longer only her, it's his child. And we are very instinctively protective of our own children."
Is it wrong to think that is all very cute?
It could turn toxic really fast, but I could clearly see that Damien was doing his best.
And Harlan, judging by how much deep breathing he was suddenly doing was trying as well.
"So... marking?" I asked.
"Marking," he continued.
"After the first time, it is more of a way to provide each other comfort.
"And it becomes slightly... erotic," he said with a smile that made me blush again.
"Is that why you wanted me to mark you too?" I said with a big smile, and he smiled mischievously as he reached for me, but suddenly stopped himself.
"Any more questions?" he asked after clearing his throat a few times.
I suddenly had one more question, but decided to ask the other one first.
"Yes."
I didn't know how to ask this, so I thought I should just be direct.
"Do Damien and Selene know you loved her?"