Amanda’s POV

Pain racked my entire body, threatening to overwhelm me, but I held back the tears. This was supposed to be what I wanted—to be free from this man. So why did I feel such intense pain and a desperate hope that he would take back his words?

“Please, both of you, stop this madness!” Matthew pleaded, but Alpha Edward remained silent, his eyes fixed on me.

“You go first. Reject me, so the pain will be less for you,” he urged, causing my anger to flare. I folded my arms defiantly.

“You go first. You were the one who brought up the topic of rejection in the first...