Tinker listened as Warren spoke cryptically of his past. The only hurt and betrayal she had known was when the pack had rejected her but she had a feeling that being rejected by someone you thought you loved, or did actually love was far worse. The only reference she had about true mating was that of her parents and she did know they had that spark of something more than the other wolves. Although many wolves mated for life, often female wolves could choose and often did, to mate with males other than their true mate during their season, but her father and mother never looked to any other.<br/><br/>Her father had told her that she was never to settle for any but her true mate. She had tried to get him to tell her how she would know and he had this very sad look in his blue eyes. Now, she was beginning to understand that look. Warren’s eyes were so transparent that she felt as if she could see every valley he had ever walked in and feel the cold water splashing from every stream he had crossed. Tinker whimpered, a soft sound that evoked the sense of empathy and love. That was when Warren put his hand on her shoulder. It was then that he declared his desire to be her mate!<br/><br/>She felt as if her heart would pound from her chest and she panted a little as if she was in a chase. Turning her head, she gave his human had a little lick with her soft pink tongue. The salt from his hand made her desire to touch him and have him touch her. She belly crawled closer to him.<br/><br/>“Warren, I know I will follow you anywhere and allow you to teach me what it is to be a shifter. I don’t truly understand what it will mean to be your mate, not in the sense of the word that humans use it.” She answered in pack speak. “ I only know the way of the wolf and the way of the Alpha which was my father’s loyalty to my mother.  If you will be patient with me and teach me, I will give you the loyalty that my father gave to my mother. I will be your mate and…” she broke off shyly, “ and you will be mine. I accept you as the Alpha of my heart. Neither one of us ever has to be alone again.”