I Brought My Daughter's Ashes to His Affair

My daughter died on her fifth birthday.

Her first real wish—the first one she was old enough to make herself—was to go to the beach with her dad.

Gideon Mercer, Alpha of Ravencrest Pack, promised he would take her.

He never showed up.

I held Lily's hand as she took her last breath. She kept asking for him. "Where's Daddy? Is Daddy coming?"

He wasn't.

I arranged the funeral alone. Now I was here, at the beach Lily had dreamed of, clutching her ashes against my chest.

She wanted the sea. She wanted to swim. But Lily had been sick her whole life—weak, fragile, always in and out of the Pack clinic. Never strong enough to do the things she dreamed of.

I came to scatter her ashes. Let her finally touch the ocean.

Then I heard it.

A woman's moan. Low, breathy. Coming from behind the rocks.

I froze.

I wasn't in the mood for other people's drama. Whoever was fucking on this beach could have their privacy. I turned to leave—

"Gideon... harder..."

My blood turned to ice.

I knew that voice. Soft, sweet, dripping with fake innocence.

Daphne.

I moved before I could stop myself. My feet carried me around the rocks, and there they were.

Gideon had her pressed against the stone, her legs wrapped around his waist. His hands gripped her thighs as he thrust into her, groaning against her neck.

The urn felt heavier in my arms.

"Gideon..." Daphne gasped between moans, "weren't you supposed to be with Lily today? She must be waiting for you..."

He didn't even slow down. "She has her mother. Elara loves using that kid to guilt-trip me."

"But Lily's been so sick lately..." Daphne's voice was sweet with concern. "What if she really needs you?"

"That kid's always sick." Gideon pulled back to look at her, still moving inside her. "Elara exaggerates every little thing. Like Lily would die if I missed one day."

My grip tightened on the urn.

She did die. She died waiting for you.

Daphne ran her fingers through his hair. "But what if something happens? I'd feel so guilty..."

"You're the one I need to take care of right now." He kissed her forehead, slowing his pace. "You're carrying my child."

"I know, but..." She bit her lip. "I'm just a human. I can't compare to your Luna..."

Gideon laughed. Cold, dismissive. "Luna? Elara bought that title with her parents' money. Nothing more."

"Then... between me and her, who do you care about more?"

"You. Obviously."

Daphne smiled, tracing his jaw. "And our baby? Will you love our baby like you love Lily?"

Gideon cupped her face. "Our child is the one I actually want."

Something inside me snapped.

"You fucking bastard."

They both froze.

Gideon pulled out of her immediately, grabbing his shirt to cover Daphne's body. He stepped in front of her, his eyes finding me in the darkness.

"Elara." His voice was ice. "Did you follow me here?"

I laughed. It came out broken, jagged. "Follow you? To my daughter's dream beach? The one she begged you to take her to?"

Daphne peeked out from behind him, clutching his shirt to her chest. "Luna, I'm so sorry... we didn't mean for you to see—"

"Shut up."

My wolf surged forward. I wanted to rip her throat out.

Gideon moved faster, blocking her completely. "Don't you dare, Elara. She's human. You touch her, you start a war between wolves and humans. Is that what you want?"

"A war?" I stared at him. "You're protecting her? Right now? After everything—"

"What I do with Daphne is none of your business." His jaw tightened. "You're my Luna in name only. Don't forget that."

"And Lily?" My voice cracked. "Was she your daughter in name only too?"

Something flickered in his eyes. He looked away. "Lily is my heir. That's different."

Daphne leaned into him, her voice soft and pitiful. "Gideon... my legs are shaking. You weren't gentle at all just now..."

He immediately softened, pulling her closer.

She looked at me over his shoulder. Smiled.

The urn burned against my chest.

I couldn't take it anymore. I lunged toward Daphne. "You disgusting—"

Pain exploded across my face.

Gideon's hand connected with my cheek so hard I stumbled, nearly dropping the urn. I caught it at the last second, clutching it to my body as I hit the sand.

"I warned you." He stood over me, eyes cold. "Touch her again, and Luna or not, I will end you."

Daphne rushed to his side, tears streaming down her face. "Gideon, don't... she's just upset... maybe Lily really is sick..."

"She's always 'sick.'" He wrapped an arm around Daphne, pulling her close. "Elara loves playing the victim. It's the only way she knows how to keep me tied to her."

Blood dripped from my lip onto the sand.

I looked up at them—my husband holding another woman, defending her against me, while I sat in the dirt clutching our daughter's ashes.