Intro. In that world dominated by beasts clans, love and union were not simple ties of the heart, but sacred marks that linked females and males beyond the flesh. The conjugal brand was like a seed that, when planted in a female, gave strength to the male and anchored it as the roots of a tree to the earth. Without those roots, he would wander, sentenced to an empty existence, unable to find his place in the world.
In that society, females had the privilege of choosing and maintaining multiple companions, an ancient practice that strengthened the offspring and ensured the union between clans. Thus, a woman could be linked to several males, each with her brand, and together they formed a complex but sacred family.
However, what was seen as tradition and balance for many, for others became an open wound of jealousy and obsession.