My Baby Daddy Isn’t Human

Elion's heart pounded violently against his ribs as he carried Raelynn in his arms. Her head rested limply against his chest, her shallow breaths warm against his skin. Panic flickered in his silver eyes, but he forced himself to keep steady. He couldn't let fear control him—not now. His footsteps echoed through the dimly lit bedroom as he laid her gently on the bed.

Raelynn's face was pale, glistening with sweat. Her delicate hands clutched her stomach, knuckles white as another wave of pain passed through her. A faint whimper escaped her lips, stabbing straight through Elion's chest.

"Sloane!" His deep voice was sharp, filled with desperation.

The door flung open, and Sloane rushed in, her long coat fluttering behind her. Reinhart and Hera followed closely, their faces tense with worry. Sloane's emerald eyes widened at the sight of Raelynn writhing on the bed. Without wasting another second, she knelt beside her, her fingers moving with practiced precision as she began to check Raelynn's pulse.

"What happened?" Sloane asked, her voice steady but urgent.

"I don't know... I don't know." Elion's jaw clenched as he struggled to find the words. His hands balled into fists at his sides, nails digging into his palms. "She just... collapsed."

Raelynn whimpered again, her body trembling beneath the silk sheets. Elion's heart clenched painfully, feeling utterly helpless as he watched her suffer. He wanted to take away her pain—wished he could bear it for her.

Sloane's brow furrowed, her fingers pressing gently against Raelynn's stomach. Her touch was careful, yet a flicker of something uncertain passed through her eyes. Reinhart stood behind her, arms crossed tightly over his chest. Hera stood near the window, watching with worried eyes, her hands clasped together.

"It's not ordinary pain," Sloane murmured, more to herself than anyone else. She glanced at Elion. "But the baby... it's fine."

Elion exhaled slowly, relief washing over him—but it was fleeting. The tension in Sloane's face told him there was more. His eyes never left Raelynn's pale face. Her eyelids fluttered weakly, as if she was fighting to stay conscious.

"Then why does she look like this?" His voice was low, tight. "What's happening to her?"

Sloane hesitated, her hand lingering on Raelynn's stomach. Finally, she leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper.

"The baby's presence... it's stronger than it should be. Much stronger." Her green eyes flicked up to meet Elion's. "It's not normal."

Elion's heart twisted painfully. This was what he had feared—what he had been trying to avoid thinking about since the day he learned about the child. He swallowed hard, his throat tightening. His mind raced, torn between protecting Raelynn from the truth and the gnawing guilt of keeping her in the dark.

Raelynn let out a soft breath, her eyelids slowly closing. Her breathing evened out, the exhaustion finally pulling her into sleep—or unconsciousness. Elion's gaze never wavered from her face, watching the rise and fall of her chest as if it was the only thing anchoring him to reality.

Sloane slowly stood, brushing her hands on her coat. "She needs rest... but this isn't something we can ignore. The baby is growing faster than expected—its presence is... unusual." She glanced at Elion, her voice quieter now. "We need to monitor her closely from now on. And maybe... it's time you tell her the truth."

Elion's breath caught in his throat. His eyes flicked back to Raelynn, sleeping so peacefully—so fragile. His heart ached. How could he tell her? How could he burden her with something that might break her completely?

Reinhart shifted beside him, his sharp gaze unwavering. "You can't hide it from her forever. She deserves to know."

Elion's fists clenched harder at his sides, his jaw locking. He knew they were right. But fear gnawed at him—a fear he hadn't felt in centuries. If he told her now, would she ever trust him again?

Sloane gently touched his arm, drawing his gaze back to her. "She's stronger than you think, Elion. But she needs to know what she's carrying... before it's too late."

Elion swallowed the lump in his throat, unable to speak. The room felt heavy—thick with unspoken truths. Hera shifted quietly, casting one last worried glance at Raelynn before slipping out of the room with Reinhart following behind. Sloane lingered a moment longer, her green eyes filled with quiet understanding.

"I'll come back later to check on her again," she said softly before leaving them alone.

Sloane hesitated at the doorway, glancing back at Elion. Her expression was thoughtful, as if weighing her next words carefully. "I'll try to find out more about this," she murmured. "Maybe there's something we're missing."

Elion gave a small nod, his jaw tight. "Thank you."

Sloane sighed, crossing her arms. "Don't thank me yet. I don't even know where to start." Her gaze flickered toward Raelynn, still unconscious on the bed. "But I'll do what I can."

Elion ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly. "That's more than enough."

The door clicked shut, leaving only the sound of Raelynn's steady breaths and the crackling fireplace filling the silence.

Elion slowly sank into the chair beside the bed, his eyes fixed on Raelynn's peaceful face. The flickering firelight cast soft shadows across her delicate features. His chest ached as he reached out, brushing a few damp strands of hair from her forehead.

"I'm so sorry..." he whispered, his voice breaking. "I never wanted this for you."

His hand trembled as it rested on her stomach, feeling the faint warmth beneath his palm. The life growing inside her—his child—was a miracle... and a curse.

How much longer could he keep the truth from her?

He leaned forward, his forehead resting against the edge of the bed. His closed his eyes tightly, trying to block out the storm of guilt and fear raging inside him.

For centuries, he had endured countless battles—faced death without flinching. But this... this was the first time he truly felt powerless.

"Forgive me..." he whispered again, his voice barely audible. "I don't know how to protect you from this."

The night stretched on in heavy silence. Elion sat there, unmoving—torn between the love that bound him to her and the truth that could tear them apart.