My Baby Daddy Isn’t Human

Axel moved like a ghost through the darkness, his steps silent against the damp earth. The cold night air clung to his skin, but he barely noticed. His mind was fixed on one thing—Raelynn.

This was dangerous. A suicide mission, if he was being honest. But he had no other choice. The worry clawing at his chest had reached a breaking point, and the urge to see her, to know if she was okay, was driving him mad.

Axel moved like a shadow, his breath shallow in the cold night air. The silence around him was deafening, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant hum of city lights. He had made it this far, walking through streets he knew too well, but now he found himself standing at the edge of Elion's mansion, the looming structure in front of him like some fortress from a nightmare. It wasn't a place Axel had ever thought he'd be—certainly not under these circumstances.

His mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. This was it. The first place he should have looked for Raelynn. Why hadn't he come here sooner? Was he trying to avoid it? Or was he just too damn stubborn to admit that this—this mansion—was likely the key to everything? If she was with Elion, this was where she'd be. The thought should have comforted him, in a way. At least he would know. But then, the other part of him—the part that hoped for something, anything other than this nightmare—was praying that Raelynn wasn't inside.

Axel wasn't sure what to hope for anymore. His stomach churned as he stared at the mansion's grand gates. He wanted answers, but he didn't want them like this.

What if she's not here? What if she had somehow managed to escape, to break free from whatever hold Elion had on her? What if she was out there somewhere, still alive and safe, just waiting for him to find her? That thought made his heart race with a strange combination of hope and fear. It would be a relief, but it would also mean he'd have to start the search all over again. More days of uncertainty, more sleepless nights wondering where the hell she was. More pain.

But what if she was here? What if she was living in this mansion, trapped by Elion's grip, playing his game because she didn't have another choice? Axel clenched his fists at his sides, the thought alone sending a cold shiver down his spine. It didn't matter that he had a million reasons to hate Elion, or that Axel had spent years trying to figure out how to bring him down. If Raelynn was here, in this place, it would mean she was caught up in something far deeper than he could understand. Something that could cost her everything.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. She was supposed to be safe. Free.

Axel shifted his weight, turning his back to the mansion, his gaze sweeping the grounds as he tried to get a better sense of what he was up against. There was no way he could just walk up to the front door. The last thing he wanted was to get himself caught on some security camera or be seen by one of Elion's people. The manager, for example, would flip out if he found out Axel had come here alone, and that was a whole different set of problems.

The guy was a hardass, to say the least. He'd interrogate Axel like he was the one under suspicion, grilling him on why he was there, what his intentions were, who had sent him. And if Axel were lucky, that was all he'd do. If he wasn't... well, he'd probably be berated into the ground for daring to step foot anywhere near Elion's territory without any order.

His fingers tightened around the smooth band of the ring on his hand. A backup plan—he always had one. The faint gleam of silver under the moonlight reminded him of that. He wasn't stepping into this blind. Even if the odds were stacked against him, Axel refused to leave without doing something.

From where he was hiding in the shadows, he could see the tight security surrounding Elion's mansion. It wasn't just for show—there were men patrolling in regular intervals, their gazes sharp, their movements precise. This was no ordinary household. Whatever was going on inside, they were guarding it like a fortress.

Axel exhaled slowly, then moved.

Every step was calculated, every breath controlled. He kept to the blind spots, shifting his weight carefully to avoid making a sound. The estate was massive, far larger than he had imagined. He slipped past the outer walls, crouching low behind a decorative hedge as two guards passed by, their low conversation blending into the rustling wind.

Once they were gone, he pressed forward.

The deeper he got, the harder it became to stay undetected. He wasn't just sneaking into some rich man's house—this place was practically a labyrinth. Every hallway seemed endless, every turn leading to another set of doors, another stretch of polished floors that could give away his presence with the slightest misstep.

And worst of all, he had no idea where Raelynn was.

He moved blindly, relying on instinct and whatever layout he could piece together in his head.

Then he saw it.

A door, slightly ajar.

Axel stilled, his breath catching as he peered through the narrow gap. His pulse pounded in his ears as his eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room.

Raelynn.

She was there, lying in bed, her body barely moving beneath the thin sheets. Even from this distance, he could tell something was wrong. She looked sick—too pale, too fragile.

A sharp pang shot through his chest.

What the hell was going on?

Axel stood there, frozen in place, his heart hammering in his chest. His eyes were glued to her, the woman he had spent countless days and nights thinking about, the one he'd been searching for.

He stepped forward, his boots barely making a sound on the floor, as if moving too quickly would shatter whatever illusion of calm he still held on to.

If she was this sick, why wasn't she in a hospital?

His fingers twitched at his side, his body screaming at him to go in, to get her out of here. But then—

A voice.

"Who's there?"

Axel's heart skipped a beat. His instincts kicked in, every muscle in his body tensing. He stayed frozen in place, barely breathing, hoping the voice hadn't heard him. Dammit, he should've been more careful.

The voice came again, sharper this time. "I said, who's there?"

It was a woman's voice, but it wasn't Raelynn's. Axel's mind raced, trying to figure out who else could possibly be in the room with her.

Axel cursed under his breath.

The person inside the room turned sharply, their gaze snapping toward the door.

Shit.

He didn't wait. He moved fast, retreating into the nearest hallway before they could catch sight of him. His heart pounded as he slipped into the shadows, pressing his back against the cool stone wall. The door creaked open further, the light spilling out into the corridor as footsteps approached.

Axel held his breath.

Seconds stretched into eternity as the person lingered, searching.

Then, finally, the footsteps retreated, the door clicking shut once more.

Axel let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, but the relief was short-lived. His mind was spinning, racing through a thousand thoughts at once. As much as he wanted to burst through that door, take Raelynn by the arm, and drag her out of this place, he knew he couldn't. Not yet. Not like this.

His fingers twitched at his sides, aching with the need to act, but he was too aware of the risks now. There was someone else in there with her. Someone who'd clearly been keeping an eye on her—or worse, someone who had a stake in keeping her there. If he made a move too quickly, too recklessly, he'd put both of them in even more danger.

He took a deep breath, his shoulders sagging with the weight of the decision he had to make.

Sorry, Raelynn. A bitter lump forming in his throat. I should've come sooner. I should've done more.

The words felt like a betrayal, even though he knew in his heart it wasn't his fault. But still, he couldn't shake the guilt. She had been alone, stuck in this place, and he hadn't been able to stop it. He hadn't been able to save her in time.

He took another step back, his resolve firming up. He couldn't stay here, not like this. It wasn't safe for him, and it sure as hell wasn't safe for her.

I'll be back, Raelynn. I promise. Just hang on. I'll get you out of here.

Axel exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay calm. He had to leave before he got himself caught. But as he turned away, one thought burned in his mind.

He would come back for her.