How could his reservations but melt before such a declaration? He bowed his head and stood, padding forward to join her in the entrance of her den. Regardless of the consequences, he had made his decision. He hoped Phib would forgive him for this extended absence. He so deeply desired to follow the Alpha around and learn all he could from his example.

But for now, his heart was given to this cool colored female, and with it his soul and body went. It was a strange thing, this love. It wasn't the swooning, flirty sort of thing he was often led to believe it was supposed to be. And it wasn't (quite) the earth-shaking, mountain-moving sort of thing in tales either.

What it was was all-encompassing. It filled him, leaving little space for anything else. It filled his vision, so that all he saw was her and her world. It filled his mind so that his thoughts revolved around the nucleus of his life... his Winter Eyes. She was queen of his world and the bringer of all happiness, contentment, and pleasure.

So he followed her into her home, her dwelling place where she had been alone for so long. He had no doubt that he was the first here, the first to win her heart, just as she was the first for him. The thought of the time to come, the time spent together, quickened his pulse and shortened his breath. Life was good now... come what may afterward.