My Baby Daddy Isn't Human-Chapter 59: Both Afraid

Silence filled the space, disturbed only by the faint ticking of a clock out of sight. Raelynn lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. It had been some time since Sloane and Hera left, assuring her she needed rest. Yet, no matter how much she tried, sleep refused to come. Every time her eyelids fluttered shut, the man's face returned—his twisted smirk, his cold eyes. Her heart raced at the memory as if she were back in that moment.

Turning to her side, Raelynn rubbed her stomach gently. It brought her back to herself, reminding her of what mattered most. The baby was fine. Sloane had said so. Still, the thought of what could have happened made her feel sick. A lump formed in her throat, and her eyes blurred with tears. She swiped them away hastily, murmuring to herself, "It's okay. Everything's okay. We're fine now."

But saying the words didn't make them true. The dull throb in her chest remained, a constant reminder of the fear she had felt.

She struggled to swallow, her throat uncomfortably dry, and she decided to get up for a drink. Her eyes drifted to the table on the far side of the room where a glass of water sat waiting. It might as well have been miles away, but she had to try. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she slowly stood, her legs trembling slightly. Her legs felt weak, as if they might give out at any moment. With each step, she had to summon her strength to continue. Halfway to the table, her knees buckled. She gasped, arms flailing for support that wasn't there.

Strong arms caught her just before she hit the ground. The sudden warmth of the embrace startled her. The firm hold, the faint scent of cedar and something uniquely him—it was Elion. Her body froze as she looked up, her eyes wide.

"Elion," she whispered. She hadn't heard him come in. Hadn't sensed him at all.

Not saying anything, he supported her back to the bed, his touch surprisingly gentle as he guided her to sit. Once she was settled, he crouched in front of her, his piercing eyes sweeping over her as though searching for more injuries.

"What do you need?" he asked softly.

"I was thirsty," Raelynn admitted, her voice soft. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment at her helplessness.

Th𝓮 most uptodate nov𝑒ls are publish𝒆d on ƒreewebηoveℓ.com.

Elion nodded once, standing and walking toward the other side of the room. He retrieved the glass of water and returned, kneeling once more as he held it out for her. When she hesitated, he tilted the glass just enough, keeping it stable as he helped her take a sip. As the cool liquid quenched her thirst, she murmured a quiet, "Thank you."

He placed the glass on the table and quietly took a seat next to her. The quiet grew, pressing down on them with an almost physical force. Raelynn fiddled with the hem of her blanket, unable to meet his gaze.

"How do you feel?" Elion finally asked, breaking the quiet. His tone was low, almost hesitant, as if he wasn't sure he wanted the answer.

"Fine," Raelynn replied automatically. But as the word left her lips, she knew it was a lie. Was she fine? The room felt heavy with memories that refused to let her go. Her hands trembled slightly, and she clenched them into fists to stop the shaking.

She glanced at Elion, and the calm strength in his eyes broke through her defenses. The dam holding back her emotions burst, and tears streamed down her face. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed, a release of everything she had been holding in.

"I was so scared," she managed to say, her voice shaking with emotion. Without thinking, she leaned forward, burying her face against Elion's chest. His shirt was soft against her cheek, and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her ear was oddly comforting.

For a moment, she worried she'd gone too far. She tried to pull away, but before she could, his hand moved. Fingers brushed through her hair gently, almost hesitantly, before settling against the back of her head. It was a simple touch, but it grounded her, holding her in place.

"I was afraid too," Elion admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

His words caught her off guard, and her sobs began to fade. Slowly, she looked up at him, her tear-stained face full of questions. His usual calm facade he always had had vanished, showing a side of him she'd never seen. The faint crease in his brow, the way his jaw clenched and unclenched—she saw it all.

"I don't know what I would have done if…" He trailed off, his gaze shifting away as if the thought was too much to say aloud.

Raelynn's chest tightened, not with fear this time but with something softer, something warmer. The vulnerability in his voice, the way he held her as if she might break—it was almost too much.

"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I didn't mean to—"

"Stop." Elion's voice was firm, cutting through her apology. His hand rested softly on her cheek as he brushed away a tear with his thumb. "You don't have to apologize. Not for this."

Her lip trembled, but she managed a small nod. She remained where she was, she let his presence soothe the tempest raging inside her. The way he held her felt like a quiet vow, one she hadn't realized she craved until now.

Minutes passed, or maybe it was longer. Time seemed irrelevant in the cocoon of quiet they'd created. Eventually, Raelynn pulled back slightly, her gaze meeting his.

"Thank you," she said softly, holding back the tears that threatened to spill over.

Elion nodded, his expression unreadable once more. But there was a softness in his eyes, a flicker of something she couldn't quite name. He got to his feet, placing his hand on her head for a moment.

"Get some rest," he said. "I'll be here with you."