Mate

Mates, or fated sexual partners, are symbols that contribute to the theme of Consent and Agency in Romantic Relationships in the fantastical world of Mate: “For a Were, finding a mate triggers a chain of physiological changes,” and the experience is equivalent “to falling in love at first sight” (22). When Weres find their mates, they are immediately bonded with them. They feel both intensely drawn to them, in a physical and chemical way, and responsible for their care, safety, and comfort.

This is true for Serena and Koen Alexander. When Koen discovers that Serena is his mate, he cannot be apart from her. He is immediately deeply involved in her care, but he also feels powerless to resist his attraction to her. The intensity of the mates’ connection fosters a complex relational exchange. For Serena and Koen, this means developing careful forms of communication, developing the novel’s exploration of consent and agency in romantic relationships. They relate via scent, touch, and conversation, even before they become sexually intimate. Their initial “mated” attraction to each other spurs their abiding loyalty and love for one another over time.