My Baby Daddy Isn’t Human

The mansion stood cloaked in heavy silence as Elion stepped inside, the faint click of his shoes echoing through the vast marble hallways. The air was thick, carrying the musty scent of aged paper and faint traces of lavender, now stale. Shadows pooled in the corners, stretching along the ornate walls where flickering sconces cast trembling light.

The oppressive hush pressed down on him, making every sound—every breath—feel louder, as if the house itself was holding its breath. His sharp eyes scanned the dim corridors, seeking any sign of life. The air carried the familiar scent of old books and polished wood, but something felt... off.

His steps carried him towards the library—the place where he often found Raelynn buried beneath stacks of books, her delicate fingers tracing over ancient texts. He pushed open the heavy door without knocking, his gaze flicking around the towering shelves and empty armchairs.

Nothing.

Elion's brow furrowed. His fingers curled into a fist by his side, but he quickly loosened them, forcing himself to stay calm. Perhaps she was simply in her room.

He turned around, his long coat sweeping behind him as he made his way to the second floor. When he reached her door, he raised his hand and knocked firmly.

"Raelynn?"

Silence.

A muscle ticked in his jaw. Without waiting any longer, he twisted the doorknob and stepped inside. The bed was neatly made, the room untouched. His sharp eyes scanned the empty space, and something unsettling began to coil deep inside him.

Where was she?

He closed the door behind him, his pace quickening as he descended the stairs. His gaze flicked around the hall before spotting Hera arranging fresh flowers in the corner. Elion strode towards her, his voice low but urgent.

"Hera."

The maid flinched, turning to him. "Yes, Mr. Vaelorian?"

"Where is Raelynn?"

Hera blinked in confusion. "She told me she was going to the library this morning... didn't she tell you?"

Elion's mind instantly replayed the morning's fleeting conversation—Raelynn mentioning she would visit the city library again. He cursed himself under his breath for not paying more attention.

"Isn't she home yet?"

Hera shook her head slowly, worry flickering in her eyes.

Elion's chest clenched, but before he could say anything more, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He fished it out, glancing at the screen—Reinhart.

He accepted the call immediately, pressing the phone to his ear.

"You have impeccable timing, Reinhart," Elion muttered darkly. "I was just about to call you. Where is she? Why isn't she home yet?"

A tense silence stretched on the other line.

"Elion..." Reinhart's voice was careful, like he was choosing his words.

Elion's blood ran cold. His entire body went rigid.

"What?" he demanded sharply. "What happened?"

Reinhart exhaled slowly. "I... lost her."

Elion's breath caught. His fingers gripped the phone tighter until his knuckles turned white. His mind spiraled, flashing through every dark possibility—each scenario worse than the last. The familiar weight of fear coiled deep in his chest, constricting tighter with every silent second. The room seemed to close in around him, the air thick and suffocating as a hollow ache settled beneath his ribs.

"You what?" His voice dropped to a deadly whisper, laced with barely contained fury.

Reinhart swallowed audibly on the other line. "She was with that guy... Axel. We were walking together when he suddenly ran off with her. I tried to follow them, but—"

Elion's teeth clenched so hard it hurt. His fangs threatened to pierce through his gums. Rage pulsed through his veins, burning hot under his skin.

"Where are you now?"

"The park near the city library."

Elion ended the call without another word. His heart hammered in his chest as he bolted out of the mansion, the front door slamming behind him. He dialed Raelynn's number as he slid into the driver's seat, the engine roaring to life.

No answer.

He tried again.

Still nothing.

His jaw clenched tighter as he sped down the dark streets, weaving through traffic at dangerous speeds. Every passing second chipped away at his composure, his mind conjuring the worst possible scenarios.

By the time he reached the park, he spotted Reinhart's car parked by the curb. Elion pulled up beside it, barely cutting the engine before stepping out. His eyes scanned the scattered lamplights and clusters of people lingering along the pathways.

Reinhart stood by a lamppost, his face shadowed and tense.

Elion strode towards him, every step radiating restrained fury.

"You had one job," he growled, his voice low and lethal. "One damn job."

Reinhart lowered his head, shame flickering in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Elion... I—"

"Save your apology." Elion's voice was like ice. "I'll deal with you later. Right now, we find her."

Reinhart swallowed hard and nodded.

They split up, combing through every inch of the park. Elion's mind raced as he asked people if they had seen a woman matching Raelynn's description, but every answer was the same—no one had noticed anything unusual.

Minutes turned into an hour, the night pressing down heavier with each passing second. Elion's heart twisted painfully as he paced along the pathways, his phone pressed tightly to his ear as he called Raelynn's number over and over.

Every time, it went straight to voicemail.

His patience frayed. Desperation clawed at his chest. He raked a hand through his hair, his normally cold composure unraveling before Reinhart's eyes.

"Elion..." Reinhart began carefully, but Elion silenced him with a glare.

"We're going to that bastard's house." His voice was sharp, leaving no room for argument.

He scrolled through his phone to find Kade's contact when suddenly—

His screen lit up.

Raelynn.

Elion's heart nearly stopped. He answered immediately, his voice sharp and breathless.

"Raelynn?"

There was a pause before her soft, tired voice crackled through the line.

"Elion... can you come pick me up?"

Elion's breath caught in his throat. Relief crashed over him, but it was quickly swallowed by panic.

"Where are you? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," she whispered. "But I'm at the hospital."

Elion's entire body stiffened.

"What... hospital?"

There was another pause.

"St. Helena."

Elion's heart clenched painfully. His fingers tightened around the phone until the plastic creaked.

"I'm on my way."