Chapter 187. Council Intervention

Raina’s POV

The bond strummed, coaxing me to glance at my mate. Valen’s sharp jewel-like eyes fixed on me, building a warm sensation in my gut. Silently, I understood the message they conveyed. I could feel the pull from inside of me that he wanted to hold me in his arms. It was soothing.

“Don’t focus on the one reason you think you don’t deserve this, that you overlook the other hundreds of reasons why you do." He whispered through the mind-link.

Valen moved from the Tuscan pilaster and stepped forward to the table to stand by his Dad’s side. Bracing his weight on his knuckles, he leaned over the table rather intimidatingly, oozing power and dominance.

Maintaining our eyelock and knowing that they would take this as impertinence, I uttered just the same, “Not having a wolf does not affect my ability to lead and stand for my people. I'm still brave, considerate, and committed to the realm. Who I am is not defined by the crown or my wolf, nor