Bound to Burn: The Alpha’s Wife’s Revenge

Ten years of hiding her identity, of suppressing her base nature and calming her wolf to become the perfect wife and lover for Roman Ashwynd, only to end up with this footage while searching for her treasured missing diamond ring.

Sharp pain stabbed her heart and body at Roman’s betrayal, causing Raisa to double over with a cry, gripping her hard as she cried out in hurt.

“That ungrateful bastard!” My wolf surged out in rage, snapping at the sight of Roman thrusting into Embry on our matrimonial bed. “How could he?!”

Breathe. Don’t shift. Control it.

Raisa had survived undercover operations in hostile territory. Had infiltrated rogue packs that would’ve ripped her apart if they knew who she was. But nothing—nothing—prepared her for this kind of pain.

She quickly held her wolf back, digging her distended claws into her  palms until blood appeared. Her wolf’s pain and the sight of blood formed crescents in her palms helped calm Raisa down. The bitter taste of betrayal and hurt sat heavily on her tongue.

Raisa’s shaky fingers closed over the phone next to her and immediately dialed a number through the encrypted phone. The number she swore she’d never call again.

“Raisa.” Commander Pierce voiced, sharp, alert. He knew Raisa wouldn’t call unless something was wrong. “What happened?”

“I’m coming back.” The words tasted like ash on her tongue. “I need extraction in thirty days.”

The silence at my words was deafening. “You want to break the mate bond.”

Not a question. He knew exactly what I meant. And what it’ll cost me.

“Roman will never agree to sever it,” Pierce said carefully. “You know what happens if you force it. The trauma alone—”

‎”I don’t care what he wants! I know what it’ll do to me.” Raisa snapped, pacing around the room before moving to the window to admire the garden below and exhaled roughly. “I’ll handle it.”

‎”Raisa, listen. Forcing a severance without your mate’s consent could kill you. Take it from someone with experience. Your wolf might not—”

‎”Just because it happened to you doesn’t mean it will happen to me. My wolf will survive.” The moments those cutting words left her lips, Raisa regretted them but she refused to apologize. “I’ll find a way.”

‎”And if you don’t?” he asked mildly.

‎”Then I’ll force it anyway and deal with whatever comes after.” Raisa’s reflection stared back at her  from the glass—still young, still the face of that stupid college girl who fell for a man who was never worth it.

Pierce sighed. “I’ll arrange for an extraction in thirty days. Be careful, Raisa. If Roman figures out what you are, what you’ve been this whole time…”

‎”He won’t.” She ended the call abruptly.

‎Footsteps echoed somewhere in the bedroom. Raisa turned to the direction of the noise with a blank face only to see a maid quietly folding fresh towels into a hamper next to the massive closet.

“What the fuck…” The maid cursed with a mixture of fascination and disgust, picking up the lingerie tossed carelessly in a corner. “Wow, talk about shameless. Wait till I tell Ashley about this.” She crooned, eyes glittering at the juicy gossip material.

‎Her gaze collided with Raisa’s and instantly she froze and turned pale. “Mrs. Ashwynd! I didn’t… I thought you were—” Her eyes immediately darted to the red silky lingerie and turned ashen with fear.

‎”They didn’t even try to hide it properly.” Raisa’s wolf snarled, demanding she rip out Embry’s heart and shove it down Roman’s throat for his betrayal.

‎But Raisa wasn’t that woman anymore. She had given up her life, her pack and everything she was for a man who threw it away for the help. “Save it,” Raisa muttered quietly.

‎The maid’s heart hammered loud enough that Raisa could hear it. Probably sensing danger even if she didn’t understand why.

‎”I’m picking up Ethan.” She announced, walking past the maid, every step measured and controlled while her wolf tore her insides. At the door, Raisa heard the maid’s silent curse and a faint smile curled her lips at that.

The kindergarten playground buzzed with shrieking, playful kids, and for a moment, Raisa’s heart felt light at their innocence. She spotted Ethan immediately—her beautiful boy with Roman’s dark hair and her amber eyes.

‎Eyes that should’ve given everything away, except Roman never looked close enough to notice. Only he wasn’t alone. Embry knelt next to him, her blonde hair shining in the sun as she helped him stack blocks. She was Ethan’s personal maid going to a year now.

‎ The woman her son lit up for in ways he never did for Raisa anymore. And Roman stood there watching them, hands in his pockets, wearing a soft smile Raisa haven’t seen in months. Her heart broke at the stark longing on his face as he watched his mistress, completely unaware of Raisa’s presence.

‎The mate bond pulsed in her chest, trying to drag Raisa towards her husband, trying to make her forget the footage. What he did. What he was still doing.

She walked over. Ethan’s head snapped up and his  face went cold. “Oh, Mommy.” He didn’t sound happy. He sounded irritated. “You’re here…”

Raisa swallowed the bitter lump in her throat. “Of course, baby. Time to go home.” She reached for his hand.

‎ He didn’t take it.

‎”I want to go home with Embry.” His chin jutted out, stubborn and hard. “She’s fun. She doesn’t force me to eat gross vegetables and she lets me stay up past bedtime.”

‎Every word cuts. “Ethan—”

‎”Embry, one more game? Please?” He turned away from Raisa completely, small shoulders rigid with rejection.

‎Something flashes in his eyes. Something red and wild. And Raisa felt this instant surge of fear. No. He’s too young. He shouldn’t be able to shift yet.

‎”Ethan Ashwynd.” Roman’s voice cracked like a whip. “Don’t be rude to your mother.” But even while he scolded their child, Roman’s gaze slid to Embry with a warmth that used to be Raisa’s. “Embry, thank you, but Ethan needs to go home with his mother.”

‎Embry’s smile wavered as she watched them, and Raisa saw the hidden calculation in her eyes. She knew. She knew exactly what she’s doing. “Of course,” she murmured sweetly, ruffling Ethan’s hair. “See you tomorrow, little man.”

‎”No!” Ethan’s shriek pierced the air. His eyes flashed red again, brighter now. “I don’t want Mommy! I want—” The air around him rippled. His body began trembling with the beginning of a shift. He was five. This couldn’t be possible.

This couldn’t be happening.

‎Roman moved fast, gripping Ethan’s shoulders. Alpha power rolled off him in crushing waves, pressing down on their son with pure dominance. “Ethan, control yourself. Now!”

‎Ethan whimpered, going stiff as Roman’s command forced his wolf into submission. Tears streamed down his face, and when he glanced at Raisa, there was nothing but pure hatred in those amber eyes. “I hate you,” he whispered. Then louder: “I hate you! You’re mean and boring and I wished Embry was my mommy!”

‎Something between the group broke at that very moment. Raisa felt it shatter like glass.

Embry touched  Roman’s arm with fake sympathy on her face. “Let me take him for a walk. He needs to calm down.”

‎And Roman —her mate, her husband, the man Raisa destroyed herself for—nodded. He let Embry lead their son away.

‎Like she was not even there.

‎”I’ll talk to him,” Roman muttered gruffly without meeting her eyes. “It’s just a phase. It will pass.”

‎”A phase.” Raisa echoed lifelessly. He thought their son’s hatred towards her was a phase. She watched Embry  walk away with Ethan. Embry’s hand resting gently on his shoulder as Ethan leaned into her like she was safe, like she was home.

‎Like Embry was everything Raisa should be but wasn’t. Suddenly, thirty days seemed impossible. But she’d survived worse. Had done and endured far more devious things in the past. And so she will have to survive thirty more days of this.

Her wolf went quiet. Cold. Calculating. And Raisa made a silent vow to myself right there: In thirty days, Roman Ashwynd would regret breaking her.

‎In thirty days, he’d know what he had lost. In thirty days, Raisa would be free.

‎Wordlessly, she turned and walked to her car, leaving her cheating husband alone at the playground.

‎The countdown had begun.