Bonding

Bonds are psychic connections between humans. They are very important in the omegaverse.

Anatomy

The ‘mating gland’ is a small bundle of nerves on the neck that sends a signal to the pyrene when enough sharp pressure is applied. It is not a scent gland, though most people think of it that way, and nearby scent glands WILL produce special, very strong pheremones when it is activated, called bonding pheremones.

The pyrene is the main structure of the brain associated with pack bonds. After scenting bonding pheremones, a person’s pyrene will send out a strong, undirected psychic ‘connection wave’. When the mating gland is activated, the bitten person’s pyrene will memorize the frequency of any connection waves it receives, forming a bond. (Infants need very little pressure on their mating gland to activate it, and rubbing their necks is usually enough.) If the new bond is a pack bond, as the person learn to ‘hear’ their new bond, they will slowly start to pick up the frequency of other pack bonds, usually completing connections with all pack members in less than two weeks, though time may vary depending on the size of the pack, the activity of the bonds, and the new member’s skill.

Alphas and omegas can only ‘hold’ one bond. This is usually called a ‘mating bond’, despite the fact that it can occur between any two people. If they form any other bond, the previous one will be erased. This will happen whether they bite or are bitten.

Betas, however, can hold multiple bonds, called ‘pack bonds’. Packs, and other larger family structures, require beta ‘heads’ to link them psychically together. Betas will have different limits to how many bonds they can support, and as they near their limit may start experiencing mental fog, exhaustion, memory loss, and migraines. Betas usually weaken as they get older, but, on the other hand, increased skill may mean they can still hold as many, or even more, bonds as they did in their youth. A pack bond will not erase a mating bond, nor will a mating bond erase a pack bond.

Obstructions to Bonding

Because bonding requires emotional connection between minds, mental differences can make bonds more challenging.

= Intellectual Disability and Brain Damage

The different processing speed and understanding can make bonds between undisabled and disabled brains challenging. The disabled person may take longer to learn the bonds, or may only be able to understand their head, or the people who put work into connecting with them. While most experienced heads CAN learn to stabilize such a bond, inexperienced, impatient, or intolerant heads may not have the necessary skill. Given time and patience most groups can incorporate even profoundly disabled individuals.

Sudden brain injuries may be more dangerous. While death of a bond mate can be traumatic, it usually isn't dangerous. The sudden void of brain death, or a drop in mental function, can act like a vacuum, pulling bond mates in as the struggle to stabilize the injured person. However, with prep, or experience, a group can learn an injured mind, and even assist in the person's healing journey.

Mental Disorders

Mental disorders, including psychosis, can also make stable bonds challenging. However, bonds are much more effective at stabilizing most mental illnesses than Earth medications. Psychosis is seen as a minor condition in the omegaverse, with bond mates being taught how to provide reality checks, assist with disordered thinking, and support emotional stability.