Chapter 4

Lancer left, thumping his foot on the ground as he walked upstairs, hoping to catch a little bit of Aliana attention downstairs.

But Aliana didn’t even bother to glance his way, as she continued to chat with his cousin with those eyes shining so brightly, making his gaze darkening as green vein bulged out from his nape.

If one who don’t know better were to see these guys..

They will surely mistake Aliana and Jasper as the mated one instead.

“...”

Lancer stopped in front of his daughter bedroom door. Though—his mind went blank instantly, not knowing what he should do next.

He paced back and forth outside Ana bedroom door, fidgeting while holding the gift intended for his daughter.

He stopped, hand hovering just before the wooden door, hesitating for only a second remembering how Ana acted at him, knocking twice as he took a deep breath.

Knock.

Knock..

“Ana?” he called out softly, knocking rhythmically before the wooden door.

Silence.

Absolute silence..

Lancer forehead creases slightly, confusion evident on his face. “...Ana?”

Still, no response came.

He knocked again twice, before his hand slowly wrapped around the doorknob, pushing it open, having received no response.

Creak—

The door creaked open noisily, revealing his daughter's room that was dimly lit by the moonlight that shone through her opened window.

And there, his daughter sat beside the window with lowered head, her little legs dangling gently, her whole presence shrouded in sorrow.

Lancer eyes flickered at the sight.

Ana didn’t lift her head at the sound of her door creaking noisily, she just continued dangling her legs.

“I didn’t ask you to come in.” Ana's sickly voice echoed quietly inside the room.

Lancer footsteps halt.

“You wanted to come inside so you knocked..” Ana murmured softly under her breath, chuckling, “not because you were asking my permission to come in, huh?”

For a moment there, Lancer felt the person before him was his mate who loved to act. 

But it was not.

It was his daughter who said those words that seemed cruel enough to pierce through his sensitive bones..

He felt his heart clenching and for some reason, the words that left her mouth feel far more uncomfortable than if she were to have another tantrum once again thrown at him.

He quietly entered the room, placing the wrapped treasure chest beside her.

“Daddy brought you your birthday present.. happy birthday Ana.”

As he chose to ignore his daughter words, it earned him a light snicker.

She laughed.

Ana turned her head, her gaze resting on the familiar pink wrapping before quietly looking away.

“Birthday? Whose birthday are you celebrating?”

Lancer brows furrowed.

“Ana, I know that you are angry at me because I didn’t make it in time for your birthday but..” Lancer bit his tongue, seeing his daughter lift her head, looking at him with those eyes filled with emptiness, lacking the sparkles it had from the past.

“I know.”

“You were with your other daughter,” Ana finished, lowering her head again, swinging her legs gently.

Lancer frowned. “What daughter? I don’t have—”

“You don’t have to lie. I’m not angry about it. Just…” Ana left her seat, putting a distance between her and him. “I been thinking hard these days…”

Lancer gulped, his heart racing in unease as he stared at those moving small lips.

“Can you not be my dad anymore?”

Silence.

Silence engulfed the room as her words fell.

Lancer stared at his daughter asking him a question—no, more like strongly suggesting for him to do, and that fact made his heart clenching in pain, feeling a lump on his throat as his breathing slowed.

He crouched down, reaching his hand out, wanting to touch Ana's head, though she only stepped back, creating another distance between them.

Lancer lowered his eyes.

“I don't have another daughter.” Lancer looked toward the little girl standing far away from him, quietly explaining.

Now that he looked closely at his daughter after a long time, only now did he realize.. how Ana became so thinner, far thinner than how he remembered her from the past.

As if, she can be blown away easily by the wind.

Her favorite oversized sweater, hung loosely over her shoulders, making her seem even more smaller. 

Those pair of dull eyes had dark circles beneath them, as her breathing was quieter.. too weak.

“Really?” Ana pursed her lips, revealing a dot on her cheeks, as she chuckled in quiet mockery, “Whose father will skip their daughter's birthday if they dont know they have another daughter outside?”

“I–” 

Ana finally looked at him, dead in the eyes. 

Those dark with a hint of emerald hue, identical to his own, met his gaze without a flicker, “Can you do it? I won’t bother you with my other birthdays in return.”

“I won’t need you to be present anymore.”

“Father.”

That single word at the end made Lancer chest tighten, feeling some difficulty breathing as he quickly dismissed his daughter's words in a panic.

“Nonsense.” 

Ana blinked, then quietly shook her head. “You have no other option but to agree.”

Lancer frown even more deeper in return, three lines visible on his forehead, creasing his handsome face into distortion.

“Why?”

Ana lips thinned, changing the topic. 

“...Can I ask you something?”

Ana lowered her gaze, looking emotionlessly at her bare feet.

“When you want another daughter, why didn’t you consult mom to have one?”

Her fingers unconsciously curled up. “Aren’t the two of you, mate?”

“Aren’t mates supposed to be.. one?” and loyal?

“Aren’t you supposed to chose us?”

Ana voice was low, nails embedded inside her palm as she bit her lower lip, agitated, throwing questions one after another.

[She’s denying of having her wolf.]

The silver wolf paced anxiously inside him, feeling the weakening thread of bond with his wolf pup. He growled, eyes reddening in pain.

Ana coughed up blood, as the moonlight outside the balcony curtains thinned, turning transparent.

Lancer lips parted in shock, crouching down as he reached out to hold his daughter, only for his hand to be smacked away, as Ana once again distanced herself.

She slowly smiled. “No matter.”

“If you were like this to mom despite of the bond between you.. then I don’t need to have a wolf to tie me to someone against their will, right?”

“It’s hard to be hated without doing anything after all.” 

Her whispers got through to his ears, as his wolf flopped down, listless, silver eyes dulling and a drop of tears fell to his fur.

“I don’t hate you.” Lancer quietly retorted, biting his lower lip.

Ana's eyes curved, still with no sparkles like she once had.

Just something… that of being relieved.

One that children this age should have never learned, but was forced to learn. And it’s because of him.. that his daughter becomes a wolfless being on their pack, future bleak as she is to be ostracized and outcasted at her coming of age.

“...”

“So can you not be my dad anymore?” 

Ana once again asked, her voice remained soft and gentle.

“I don’t really like you as my dad. It makes it looked like I’m a burden to mom when you are still my dad. So..”

Ana tilted her head.

“Can you?”

Lancer eyelashes flickered, water forming inside his eyes.

He wanted to reach out and pat that furry head, only for Ana to once again instinctively lean away before his fingers could lay down above it.

“..”

Lancer took a deep breath as he stood.

His eyes lowered, covering up the flicker of emotions that flashed past his eyes.

“No.”

Lilith hiding behind the door, closed her eyes, covering her mouth, taking a shaky breath.

She tiredly looked at the ceiling, then slowly raised her hand to feel her chest.

“I’m sorry..” really sorry… Ana.