Ylva could hear him as he made his offer to Gunter.  It was a lifeline, in all reality, a way for his pack to survive.  Though Gunter only replied with a nod of his head, Ylva had the feeling he would eventually take Valko up on his offer.  He likely needed time to lick his wounds and deal with the perceived loss of Ylva.  She figured he likely had thought he would come here, save her, and have a different life.  She felt sorry for that, but she knew if she had left with him she would not be happy.<br/><br/>She was not sure what to expect from Valko as he returned to her.  Disappointment at her first reaction?  This was all so strange and new, and though she felt utterly comfortable with him, it reminded her that she still did not know him all that well.  Before she could furrow her brow, he had pulled her into his arms and his warm lips pressed firmly against hers, melting away some of her worries.  She drank him in for a moment, but then gently pulled back to look up at him.<br/><br/>"Gunter is a good man.  Just...even when my mind considered going with him, getting some of my pack back, my wolf wanted nothing to do with that plan."  He would know as well as she did, going against the wol was at best difficult and at worst...impossible.  It was dividing two parts one's self, which in turn began to damage and fragment the mind.  There were wolves out there who had become feral and rabid for doing such a thing and Ylva had no intention of tempting that fate.<br/><br/>"I still need to make Antony pay, but going with Gunter and trying to do it...We would both end up dead.  And I would not be happy."  That was the other layer of the problem she faced.  She wanted Valko, but even her wolf wanted to feel the sensation of tearing Antony's throat out with her bare teeth.  She looked down and sighed, closing her eyes for a moment, Ylva listened to the steady and strong beat of her own heart, as if it would guide her in what she needed to do next.<br/><br/>She kissed him again, a soft touch, almost like a prayer against his lips.  Ylva then settled her head against his chest, and noticed that the rhythm of his heart beat in time with hers.<br/><br/>"Valko...I will be your mate, if that is what we both want, but you need to know...I can't rest, not fully, until Antony and those loyal to him are dead.  I can't live a full life while he still breathes..."