My Baby Daddy Isn’t Human

Raelynn stirred in her sleep, a faint smile spreading across her face as she shifted beneath the soft sheets. A content sigh escaped her lips as she felt an overwhelming sense of peace—a rare moment where no dark dreams haunted her mind. Her fingers curled slightly, gripping the edge of the blanket as she stretched her legs and slowly opened her eyes.

Raelynn blinked, her smile widening as she stretched her arms above her head with a delighted screech, her body feeling unusually light and relaxed.

"Wow… no nightmares," she murmured to herself, still basking in the pleasant afterglow of a dream she barely remembered but knew she enjoyed.

Raelynn let her arms drop back down, sinking deeper into the comfort of her bed. Her body felt warm, well-rested in a way she hadn't experienced in a long time.

She blinked lazily at the ceiling, her thoughts drifting. Well… it's not like I've been having nightmares lately anyway. It was true—the usual restless nights had lessened. The dark dreams that used to claw at her mind had faded into something distant, almost insignificant.

But last night? Last night had been different.

Her sleep had been good. Not just normal or tolerable, but genuinely peaceful.

She glanced around, expecting to see Elion's grand, dark-themed bedroom—the last place she remembered being.

Instead, familiar pale blue walls surrounded her. Her floral curtains swayed gently with the breeze, and the framed picture of her mother still sat on the nightstand. Confusion knitted Raelynn's brows together.

"Wait, this is my room?" she muttered, sitting up quickly. Her tousled hair fell over her shoulders as she tried to piece together how she ended up back here. "But I was… I was in Elion's room, wasn't I?"

A flush crept up her cheeks as fragments of the dream returned. Elion's intense gaze. His hand brushing her thigh. His lips trailing down her neck. Her heart raced just recalling it.

She scrambled toward the vanity mirror, tugging down the collar of her shirt to inspect her neck and chest. Clean. Smooth skin. Not a single mark.

Raelynn gasped. "It was just a dream?!" she whispered in disbelief, slapping her hand over her mouth as her face burned hotter.

Her mind reeled. "Oh my god, that wasn't real. That was all in my head." She couldn't decide whether to be relieved or mortified.

With a deep sigh, she pushed herself up and headed to the shower, hoping to wash away the lingering heat on her skin.

The warm water poured over her as she lathered soap across her arms, but her mind wasn't cooperating. The sensations from her dream—Elion's rough hands, the weight of his body, the way he kissed her like she was the only one in the world—still tingled across her skin.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered, trying to focus on washing her hair, but her traitorous mind kept replaying the most heated parts. Her fingers slowed against her scalp as she sighed deeply. "It felt so real…"

By the time she emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, her face was still a light pink. "No more late-night romance novels before bed," she promised herself.

Breakfast was already in full swing when Raelynn made her way downstairs. The soft chatter of Sloane and Reinhart filled the dining room, both engaged in some lively debate over the best way to cook pancakes.

Sloane laughed as she flipped one on the pan. "I'm telling you, Reinhart, extra butter makes it golden and crispy."

"And I'm telling you, it ruins the fluff!" Reinhart countered, waving his fork dramatically.

Raelynn smiled faintly at their bickering, but the moment her gaze landed on Elion, who sat quietly at the head of the table, her throat dried up. He was stirring his coffee, looking every bit the brooding CEO, his hair falling slightly into his eyes.

She quickly averted her gaze and sat down, strategically choosing a seat a little farther from him. Her heart beat faster than it should.

"Morning, Raelynn!" Sloane chimed, sliding a plate of pancakes in front of her.

"Good morning," Raelynn replied, though her voice cracked halfway through. She coughed to cover it.

Elion didn't say anything, but she could feel his eyes on her. Her cheeks warmed again.

The breakfast table was filled with chatter—Sloane and Reinhart doing most of the heavy lifting—but Raelynn found herself strangely silent. She kept her head low, focusing way too hard on cutting her pancakes into perfect squares.

And then she risked it.

She glanced up. Elion's amber eyes were on her, unwavering and calm, but all she could see was the way he had kissed her neck in that dream. Her fork slipped, stabbing the plate with a loud clang.

"You okay?" Sloane asked, glancing over.

Raelynn hastily nodded. "Y-yeah, fine. Just thinking about this stupid dream."

Elion raised a brow, the corner of his mouth twitching ever so slightly.

The more she tried to focus on her food, the more awkward the air around her felt. Her shoulders stiffened every time Elion moved, every time he sipped his coffee or shifted in his chair. Her dream was now the only thing playing on repeat in her mind.

At one point, she reached for the napkin holder, her fingers brushing against Elion's hand.

It was electric.

She jolted as though burned, yanking her hand back, her eyes wide in panic. "I—I'm done!" she blurted out, grabbing her plate even though it was still half full.

"Raelynn—" Reinhart started.

But she was already on her feet. "I-I'll go now! Enjoy your breakfast!"

She didn't wait for anyone to reply. Her heart raced as she bolted out of the dining room, the faint sound of Reinhart's confused laugh echoing behind her.

Elion, still seated, watched her retreating figure with a slight smirk before calmly sipping his coffee.

"Strange girl," Reinhart muttered, though there was a chuckle in his voice.

Elion didn't answer. But the slight twitch in his jaw hinted that he, too, was wondering just what kind of dream had made Raelynn act like that.