Mate

Koen drives Serena to a farmhouse, where they meet Dr. Sem Caine. Serena immediately panics that Koen discovered her illness. However, Sem assures Serena that she isn’t there as a patient. Instead, Sem wants to discuss the veracity of age-old legends about hybrids. He believes more of her kind exist.

Overwhelmed, Serena steps out for some air. She contemplates her circumstances. Suddenly, she senses a presence behind her. When she moves to defend herself, she is surprised to turn around and find a man kneeling before her. He addresses her as Eva, insisting that he has been looking for her.

Serena tries to ascertain the man’s identity and intentions, but he won’t answer her questions directly. Instead, he tells her they knew each other as children and insists she is meant to come with him back to his people.

Koen shows up, and Serena feels instantly at ease. The man continues calling Serena by the name Eva and begging her to come home with him. He also refers to someone named Constantine, which causes Koen to visibly bristle. Koen and Serena insist Serena isn’t going anywhere. When Koen tries to apprehend the man, he runs off the cliff to his death.

Serena is emotional for the next few days, blaming herself for the stranger’s death. One day, Koen finally explains that Constantine was a cult leader. His cult was responsible for attacking the Weres; Koen killed him in the conflict, but the stranger is proof that the cult still exists. Constantine promised his Human followers he could turn them into Weres, and they see Serena as evidence of Constantine’s power. Koen is even more desperate to protect her.

Serena wakes up in a cold sweat that night. Her body is riddled with pain, and she goes into the bathroom. Koen appears. She demands that he leave her alone, but he intercedes instead. He runs a cold bath and joins her in the water, holding her close. Serena finally calms down; her temperature lowers, and she falls asleep.

Serena wakes up to Koen playing the piano. She’s shocked to discover how proficient he is. The two discuss the events of last night. Serena explains that she has CSD, and her prognosis isn’t good. Koen insists that he won’t let her die. He found letters she wrote to Ana and Misery in anticipation of her death and doesn’t want her to give up hope.

Koen takes Serena to see Dr. Sem again. He explains the situation and insists that Dr. Sem do something. Dr. Sem deems her condition as hopeless as Dr. Henshaw did. A furious Koen demands that he try harder. Outside afterward, Serena tells Koen she’d be happy if today were her last day alive because she is with him.

Koen holds a pack meeting at the cabin. Serena listens in on their conversation, particularly intrigued by their discussion of Constantine and the cult. The discussion confirms that the cult doesn’t believe that Serena is hybrid—instead, they believe that Constantine changed her into a Were.

After everyone leaves, Serena calls Misery to catch up. She still doesn’t explain what is going on with her. Afterward, she and Koen curl up in Koen’s room to sleep.

Koen wakes Serena when he detects another fever coming on. He shepherds her into the bathroom where he has run her a cold bath. Although she is burning up, Serena doesn’t want to get in. She presses herself into Koen and is overwhelmed by sexual desire. They hold each other, and finally, Koen tells her to masturbate while he watches. Serena is highly aroused and eventually orgasms. They express their attraction for one another and how painful it is not to be able to act on their feelings.

Early the next morning, Koen receives a call from Dr. Sem about Serena’s condition. His wife, Layla, is a midwife and has examined her case. Koen and Serena race to the Caines’ farmhouse. Layla explains that Serena doesn’t have CSD and is not terminal; instead, she’s “going into Estrus” (261), or Heat. She will experience a phase of intensified sexual arousal and must engage in intercourse with others or risk becoming violent.

Layla advises against masturbation because Serena needs a partner to orgasm during Estrus. Another symptom of Estrus is nesting, or gathering familiar, comforting articles into a central location. A panicked Serena dismisses Koen from the room. She begs Layla to prevent her from going into Heat because she can’t be with Koen and doesn’t want to sleep with anyone else.

Layla explains the possible methods for preventing Estrus. She explains what will happen to help prepare Serena.

Outside afterward, Serena encounters Brenna: Koen left to deal with a Vampyre issue and sent her to caretake Serena. Weres patrol the cabin all afternoon. When Koen returns, he and Serena chat, banter, and get ready for bed. Serena wishes things could be different between them. She falls asleep and wakes up with another fever.