No Sanctuary

Kaelen’s POV

Silence hung over the council table as every single elder kept their eyes locked on me, waiting to see how far I would push my objection.

"With all due respect to everyone seated here," I spoke up, keeping my tone measured despite the pressure tightening my chest, "my head simply isn't in the right place to take a new mate right now. Yes, our pack needs stability, I won't argue that