ADREIN.
I slid my hands up to the sides of Maria's face, my palms resting gently over her warm skin as I closed my eyes.
Every single Alpha instinct in my blood screamed out in horror, fighting against the blasphemous action I was about to commit. But I slammed a mental wall down against those instincts.
I forced my consciousness deep into the spiritual plain, locking onto the vibrant, golden thread connecting my soul to hers—the bond that was currently dragging her down into the dark abyss.
'I reject …' I spoke into the quiet depths of my mind, taking a shuddering breath as I prepared to force the agonizing words into the physical air. 'Maria, I reject our bond. I release you—'
A violent, electric flare of spiritual resistance exploded inside my chest, making my jaw lock tight as tears streamed down my face. The pain was immediate—a searing, white-hot blade slicing into my soul—but I pushed through it, focusing every ounce of my willpower onto snapping my connection to her.
