My Mate Took Our Daughter’s Life-Saving Money

“Where did the money go?” The words slipped out before I could stop them, anxious and urgent, echoing in the quiet kitchen.

Lily paused a few steps away in the dining room, her tiny fork hovering above the cake.

Ten pink candles flickered softly, casting trembling shadows across her hopeful face. Her eyes, wide and bright, searched mine. “Mommy?”

I forced a shaky smile, rushing out to brush her dark hair behind her ear. “Everything’s fine, baby. Just enjoy your cake. Mommy will take care of everything for you, okay?”

-

My mate, Alpha Jackson, followed me out and lounged at the head of the table, one leg crossed over the other, his phone balanced lazily in his hand.

The tapping of his thumb against the screen was a metronome of impatience. He simply ignored my question.

Margaret, his mother, quickly sat beside him, pale and pristine, her eyes cold, sharp, assessing. Noah, our fifteen-year-old heir, pushed at his food, jaw tight, occasionally glancing at his sister with a disinterest that bordered on disdain.

“Jackson! The doctor called yesterday,” I knew maybe I should avoid the children before picking up the conversation again, but I was just too anxious for an answer now. “Dr. Thorne’s office. They need the deposit by Monday to secure Lily’s surgery slot.”

Jackson’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, but his eyes remained glued to his phone. “We’ll discuss it later, now, focus on Lily’s birthday dinner,” he said, clipped and precise.

“Jackson, there is no later. If we miss this window—”

“I said we’ll discuss it later, Raye.” His tone carried that dangerous edge I knew all too well.

But I couldn’t let it go.

Not tonight. Not when Lily sat there, blowing out her candles with that fragile hope shining in her eyes. Not when I had gone over our accounts that morning, only to find them nearly empty—except for the large withdrawal three days ago.

“Where did the money go? Tell me! I told you we need it!” I repeated again, louder this time, words spilling out in disbelief and fear.

The room fell silent. Even Noah’s fork paused midair.

Jackson finally lifted his gaze, cold and calculating. “What did you just say?”

My heart hammered, but Lily’s trusting face gave me courage. “The surgery fund. Thirty-five thousand dollars! It’s gone and I need you to tell me what you used that money for. I’m your mate—”

Margaret’s fork clinked against her plate as she set it down, eyes flicking between Jackson and me, as if anticipating a collision.

“You went through my accounts?” Jackson’s voice was deceptively calm, almost surgical.

“Our accounts,” I corrected, voice trembling but firm. “For our daughter’s surgery.”

“Mommy?” Lily’s small voice cut through the tension, fragile and worried. “Is everything okay?”

I forced a comforting smile, though my hands shook. “Everything’s fine, baby. I promise.”

Jackson rose slowly, chair scraping against the hardwood floor. “Rachel needed help. She was exiled from her pack, left with nothing. I couldn’t