A place for the rest of us

"You were protecting your mate," I say, and only stumble a little over the word because it's so permanent sounding and we've never really made any declarations like that. "I won't have you beating yourself up over your nature. I love all of you, Jack. The animal sides, and the human sides. You have to accept those sides, as well, even if those instincts don't make sense to your human one."