8 chapter eight

She hated to play the pitiful card but she knew she had to create this image. Against her cousin who at the age of 3 could win out against an award winning Oscar winner. She had to play it straight and with a clear mind. 'Play it smart simple and slow' she reminded herself. 'Uproot her foundation, clear out her support, and bury her in her lies while exposing her true face' sounds like a true plan.

She returned herself to the task at hand teaching her family not to forget her. The tears were in her eyes made them shine and her brown eyes she knew once someone looked in straight on had an effect of making people drown in them old people treat her as their child, younger ones (small children) look to her as their beloved older siblings and people her age really had no effect but still. She had to play her advantages with those she could to get the task done at hand. She wasn't normally a crier so this "special" skill never really got used plus her stubborn attitude also ruined it.

She looked towards the principal and bit her lip in anguish and asked again "Do we really have to call my father at work or interrupt my brothers education for this?" Tilting her head to the side while asking made him soften as he stared into her starry brown eyes that drowned him in pity and a feeling of wanting to tell her everything will be ok rose out of him.

He tried to answer yes but as he tried the words got stuck in his throat. He tried multiple times and still could not say yes. A silence filled the room as one was struggling to say the words while the other one looked to be on the urge of crying. Gone was the business smile attitude and now here is the sensitive child nature aura. He preferred the one before where he could give a swift answer of yes I need them here because you need someone to vouch for you but the words still stuck in his throat.

Lana knew his will and resolve was weakening just a bit more and he would cave. She saw him fidget, cough, break eye contact, and even almost say the words. Normally principal pal was strict and he stuck to the rules and punishments this was a first for him. He wanted to say yes, he knew he should say yes, he was attempting to say yes but the words won't come out. He felt like banging his head against his desk to clear them. His phone started to ring on the side he saw his mates phone number on it and answered it. Sighing in relief he answered "Yes darling?"

He broke eye contact with Lana and continued for 5 minutes making sure to answer his mates questions on how his day went. He felt his head clearing up and when finally he hung up he avoided looking her in the eyes and saying the words. "Ms. Doeson." Lana interrupted "yes Principal Pal?" she asked in a dejected but respectful voice and her image popped into his head.

'Why is he behaving like this?!' he screamed in his head. For some reason there was something preventing him from saying the words even though he might offend her by saying them. She not his mate, not his child but for some reason he felt as if she could be his and his deliciously beautiful mates child. 'No Darrell!' he mentally slapped himself but it was too late the image of all of them as a family entered his head and he was smittened. He avoided the subject with his mate for years because he didn't want to share her and now here he was imagining having a family. Cold sweat slowly went down his back as a realization soon appeared. He needed to get her out of here before he came to a resolve of changing his mind but somehow knew it was too late. He cursed himself as he solidified his resolve and was going to say he wanted to say he wanted a child.

As he was mentally beating himself up she knew she won the battle. He sighed in defeat and anguish. Just as he was about to continue past this point his secretary called out as the door opened dramatically with a bang.

A loud bang from door hitting the wall did not improve his mood. Just as he was about to get up and yell at the person who abused his door he saw his best friend/alpha Davis at the door.

He could feel black lines going down the side of his face if possible from seeing his friend do this. "Alp" he was cut off as he heard him scream "Babydoll!" in relief/happiness and grab the girl seated across the desk in a hug.

He could see an ugly expression in her face as Davis did a check over to make sure she was fine. What surprised him was the fact afterwards he kissed her forehead and cheeks multiple times while saying thank all above for her safety. A thought crossed his head of staying home in bed or leaving early for sick leave because his day has just started and he felt so tired and worn out.

He coughed a few times to get alpha Davis's attention. Davis looked towards Darrel as he started to pet his daughters head like when she was younger. An urge of biting that hand over came her as she instead pursed her lips in protest.

"Davis what are you doing here?" Darrel asked ignoring the current situation. "I am here for my daughter of course." he tilted his head in confusion of being asked a stupid question by his 3rd in command. "Shannon is in class right now and I haven't heard any problems with her or your sons.So I repeat what are you doing here rubbing my new students head?" Fatherly instinct over came Darrel as he questioned his alpha. Davis would normally be mad but since this was his friend and he was searching desperately for Lana around the house til he saw the note on the refrigerator. He let it slide. When Lana heard Shannon's name being mentioned a piercing pain entered her heart.

She decided now was one of the times to advance. "Sh-sh-Shannon?! So it's true! You did replace me as your daughter with her!!" He knew there was kind of a rivalry between the two of them but he didn't expect her to say those words."Replace?" Darrel said as he looked at his best friend. Davis coughed like he was somehow daughter cheated as she once called it when she was 4. Cold sweat appeared on his back as he knew he had to answer this carefully as she had the ability to turn white into any color she wanted to when speaking in words.

Lana gained momentum as he was about to speak. "I told Mom you didn't want me and same with big brothers. She kept telling me you all love me and wouldn't do that but look! I was only gone for 8 years and all of you call someone else your daughter or sister and forget my existence." she ended her sentence in tears as the drama played out.

Both men were in shock not knowing how to answer from that response. Davis was the first to get his barring as he replied " What are you talking about?!" Lana had her speech played out in her head in advance and knew what to do. She wiped her eyes and asked "Then why is there no pictures of me in the house and why does everyone call cousin Shannon your daughter? And call her big brothers sister?" she stressed the title cousin to make clear the difference. "Because it was painful to talk about you and seeing your picture would made me sad. Daddy has a special picture of you in his desk. I will show you it when we get home later ok?" " B-but what about this morning? No one was there and last night you only tucked me in you didn't read me a chapter from my favorite storybook like you used to? How do I even know if I got my good night kiss." she pouted at the end with tear struck eyes.

"Awe. So adorable!" Davis rubbed his head against his daughter. He knew she could be a true terror of a monster. But when she acted spoilt like this where she was hurt by not getting his love it always made her seem more adorable to him. Just because he knew that underneath that sometimes but cruel heart of stone she loved him.

Just by the way she was acting and what his wife said in the letter she left him he knew that she felt hurt when they didn't visit. He only read halfway through the letter. The daughter he knew never really changed her ways. His wife/mate always wanted to tell him but when he cut her down she didn't know how to continue without causing him pain or how to make him listen to her. He always left the room when the subject of Lana came up so how could she?

He couldn't finish the letter but knew he had more time later. After reading it in the house that was located further in the woods he realized that he forgotten to tell his sons to take her to school. She must have been scared he told himself as nuzzled her head with his own. Even though when he was desperately searching for her til he saw the note on the refrigerator saying she took the bus to school with a xp at the end of the note he was just glad she was safe and sound.

Darrel watched Davis in turmoil as he comforted his new student. Sudden realization over came him as he heard the conversation between the 2. The girl sitting in front of him was his alphas blood daughter. He suddenly shot up at this. There hasn't been a Landen born female in the line for over 2 centuries. Shannon is included in that because Shannon's father was the fourth member of there group from when they were in high school. It was Eric, Davis,Him and Jeff. What in the world is going on why would he hide her. She would have been pampered and loved here.

Davis could see shock written on his friends face as Lana coughed twice. While still drying her eyes off and on waiting for his response. Shot! he mentally cursed in his head he now knew what he forgot to do tell his sons that their sister was still alive.

Trepidation and anxiety started to fill him up. He now knew what his wife went through when trying to tell him and having no response. He patted her head and said "That's because my precious darling daughter wasn't supposed to start school today but tomorrow. Tonight I was going to have you meet your sibblings again at your favorite place." "Really?" she asked knowing he was sucking up because he was in the wrong and didn't want to admit his mistakes. "Absolutely."

She put on a thoughtful expression and said " It's not like the time you misplaced me at the grocery store or city park or when you lost me at the carnival or zoo?" He choked in response as she continued "Are you sure you are up to taking care of me?" she said in a doubtful voice. Darrel could help but almost spit out his drink he was drinking as he watch like a play was being preformed infront of him.

"Daddy is not that irresponsible?!" She pulled out a cellphone and he watched as she scrolled through the number. She looked at Darrel and asked if the emergency numbers were correct and when he asked why while saying they were correct she answered " I will probably need them under his care in the future." A hurt look crossed his face as he watched his daughter say this.

Darrel coughed and filled out the missing information that was needed since he now knew she was his daughter. He couldn't help ask Davis "Is she your biological daughter?" If looks could kill Darrel would have been dead by the look he gave him and respond "Of course she is!!" Lana looked over and said "are you sure?" he wanted to choke Darrel for giving her a chance to go against him. "Laney how must I say this. You are 100% my blood and child." "But can't I exchange you out for someone else more responsible?" Davis gave her a look " What did your mother always say when you asked this question?" she sighed in disappointment and looked away. Darrel coughed again trying to bring the situation around.

His alpha has always been known to be a strict, caring, responsible, and understanding parent and leader but from this little girl's mouth he is the exact opposite. Right just go with the flow he pulled out of the school schedule for her and handed it over going over the classes and what is expected for her ignoring everything previously.