My Baby Daddy Isn’t Human

Raelynn lay back on her bed, the cool comforter soothing her skin. The room was quiet except for the faint ticking of the antique clock on the wall. She had been home for a while now, ever since Elion dropped her off after the doctor's appointment. Her body was tired, not from work, but from the emotional rollercoaster of the day.

She toyed with her necklace without thinking, its cool touch strangely calming. She smiled, a soft, genuine curve of her lips that lit up her face. With her thumb, she traced the edges of the small pendant before lifting it to her lips and pressing a kiss to it.

This necklace had always been with her. For as long as she could remember, it had been the one constant in her life. She had no family, no home that she could call her own. From the orphanage to a revolving door of foster homes, she had learned to adapt, but never to belong. The headmistress of the orphanage had once told her that the necklace had been found with her when she was abandoned. It was the only thing she could claim as truly hers, and she kept it close, like a safety net.

Raelynn sighed softly, her fingers still holding onto the pendant. The memory of almost losing it earlier that day sent a faint shiver down her spine. She promised herself she would never be so careless again. The panic she had felt in the car had been real—so real that it left her shaking even now when she thought about it.

She swung her legs off the bed and sat up, her bare feet brushing against the soft rug on the floor. A slight yawn escaped her lips as she stretched her arms over her head.

"I'm bored," she murmured to herself as she stood and walked to the window. She pulled the curtains back slightly, peeking at the sprawling gardens outside. "What am I supposed to do all day?"

Her lips twitched with a wry smile as she thought about her usual routine. Normally, she'd be at work right now, juggling orders and managing the usual chaos. But now, she had nothing. The thought of looking for a job crossed her mind, not because she needed the money anymore, but because the idea of having nothing to do felt unbearable.

She chuckled to herself, shaking her head. "I sound so arrogant," she said with a smirk."

Leaving her room, she decided to explore the mansion a bit. The place was huge, way bigger than anything she'd ever seen. Every time she wandered through its halls, she found something new: a room she hadn't noticed before, a piece of art that seemed to change depending on the light, or a hallway that twisted in a direction she didn't remember.

Raelynn made her way to the kitchen, hoping to find something to occupy herself. She poked around the counters and opened a few cabinets before losing interest. Her feet carried her further, through the back door that led outside. She found herself in the back lot of the mansion, where the warm sun beat down on her shoulders.

She stopped when she heard voices—low, gruff murmurs that piqued her curiosity. Moving quietly, she followed the sound until she came across a scene that made her pause. A large truck was parked near the back entrance of the mansion, and several men were unloading boxes and crates.

Her brows furrowed as she watched. Everyone was working quickly, like they'd done this a hundred times before. She saw them carry in sacks of potatoes, crates of vegetables, and other supplies that looked like the kind of things a kitchen would use. Her lips twitched in amusement. "Of course," she thought, "the rich have their own way of grocery shopping. Why bother with supermarkets when you can have it all delivered to your doorstep?"

But then she noticed something that made her pause. Among the crates and boxes, she saw several cases filled with glass bottles. They were filled with a deep red liquid that sparkled when the sunlight hit them.

She tilted her head, her curiosity growing. "What kind of ingredient is that?" she wondered. She couldn't recall ever seeing anything like it before. Was it some kind of imported delicacy? A rare juice or syrup? The more she looked, the more it puzzled her.

Raelynn took a step closer, hoping to get a better look. She was about to approach the truck when she felt a sudden tap on her shoulder.

She let out a startled yelp and turned around quickly. Her eyes landed on Hera, who was standing there with a calm but watchful expression.

"Hera!" Raelynn said, clutching her chest. "You scared me."

Hera smiled softly, her tone warm but firm. "I didn't mean to frighten you. What are you doing out here?"

Raelynn glanced back at the truck for a brief second before shrugging. "Oh, nothing. I was just walking around. I got bored inside."

Hera's eyes softened, and she stepped closer, wrapping an arm around Raelynn's shoulders. "The sun is too strong right now," she said gently. "It's not good for you, especially in your condition."

Raelynn let out a small sigh but didn't argue. "I was just curious," she said, glancing back one more time.

Hera, noticing her gaze, subtly shifted her position to block Raelynn's view. "Come on," she said, her voice light but insistent. "Let's head back inside. You need to rest."

Raelynn nodded reluctantly, allowing Hera to guide her back toward the house. As they walked, Raelynn couldn't shake the feeling that there was something strange about what she'd seen. The men near the truck had seemed so serious, moving like they were on autopilot. And that red liquid—it wasn't like anything she'd seen before.

Still, she didn't push for answers. Hera's calmness and the way she gently guided her away made it hard to argue.

As they stepped back inside the mansion, Hera smiled down at her. "Why don't you relax in the lounge for a bit? I'll bring you something cool to drink."

Raelynn gave her a small smile in return. "Thanks, Hera."

Little did she know, as Hera walked away, the people outside exchanged tense glances. One of them murmured something under his breath, his gaze following the path Raelynn and Hera had taken. Whatever they were doing, they had no intention of being discovered.