My Baby Daddy Isn't Human-Chapter 233: Run For It

The cool night air wrapped around them as Axel led Raelynn through the silent corridors of the Vaelorian estate. His grip on her hand was firm but careful, his movements swift yet measured. Every step they took felt like walking on the edge of a knife—one wrong move, one careless sound, and everything would come crashing down.

They had been in Raelynn’s room for what seemed like hours, but in reality, it had only been minutes. Axel had waited just outside the door, giving her space to change into something warmer. It wasn’t much—a thick sweater, some jeans, and boots. Still, it was more than that thin nightgown that had clung to her.

It wasn’t just the chill of the night air that worried him.

But what was more troubling to Axel was that throughout the whole ordeal, nobody had come to check on her. He’d thought for sure someone would have passed by, that the guards would have done their rounds, or that one of the maids would have come in to make sure Raelynn was alright. But no one had come.

The hallway had been eerily quiet, like the whole estate was holding its breath.

"You’re alright?" Axel asked softly, looking down at her as they moved through the halls.

Raelynn didn’t answer immediately. She just nodded weakly, her hand squeezing his in return, as if she was still trying to get her bearings. The exhaustion on her face was hard to miss, and the way she stumbled slightly with every step broke something inside Axel. She was so far from okay.

Raelynn struggled to keep up, her body weak and sluggish, but Axel never let go. He adjusted his pace, glancing back at her with quiet urgency. "Almost there," he whispered, his breath slightly uneven from the adrenaline surging through his veins.

She didn’t respond, only nodded weakly. Her chest ached, and every breath felt heavier than the last. But she kept moving—because stopping wasn’t an option.

The hallway stretched long and dark, lit only by the faint glow of the sconces along the walls. The grand mansion, normally an impenetrable fortress, was now a maze they had to escape. Axel navigated through it with sharp precision, taking turns without hesitation. He had memorized the layout. He knew exactly where the weak spots were.

They reached a side door near the east wing, one he had carefully scouted earlier. It was one of the lesser-used exits, meant for staff and deliveries, with fewer guards stationed around it.

Axel pressed his ear against the door, listening.

Silence.

Still, he didn’t trust it. He crouched slightly, checking through the small gap at the bottom. No shadows. No movement.

He pushed the door open just enough to peek outside. The courtyard beyond was dimly lit, the security lights casting long, eerie shadows over the cobblestone path. The guard stationed at the far gate was standing with his back to them, barely alert.

Perfect.

Axel turned to Raelynn, his voice barely above a whisper. "Stay close to me. Don’t make a sound."

Raelynn swallowed and nodded. She didn’t know how he was doing this—how he was so calm, so focused—but she trusted him.

With a final glance around, Axel pulled her outside, shutting the door softly behind them.

The night air was colder than she expected, and the wind carried the scent of damp earth and distant rain. It was quiet—too quiet.

Axel guided her along the edge of the courtyard, keeping to the shadows. The sound of their footsteps was almost nonexistent against the stone path.

The gate wasn’t far.

Just a little more.

They moved quickly, avoiding the pools of light cast by the streetlamps. Axel’s eyes flicked constantly between Raelynn and their surroundings, his body tense, every muscle coiled like a spring.

When they finally reached the gate, he exhaled sharply.

They had made it.

The guard was still facing away, his posture lazy. Axel waited for the right moment, his fingers tightening around Raelynn’s hand.

Then, in a swift, practiced motion, he led her forward. They slipped through the open side passage, stepping onto the road beyond.

Freedom.

For a brief, fleeting second, relief washed over Axel’s face. He turned to Raelynn, about to speak—

But then it happened.

A sudden chill swept through the air.

Not the natural kind.

It was sharp, unnatural, sinking into the skin like ice. The temperature dropped within seconds, and a thick, heavy stillness settled around them.

Raelynn shivered, her breath turning faintly visible. A strange, suffocating pressure filled the space between them, as if the night itself had come alive.

Axel’s instincts screamed at him.

Something was wrong.

Then—

A voice.

Low. Cold. Controlled.

"Where do you think you’re taking her?"

Axel froze.

His stomach twisted as he turned slowly, his jaw tightening.

From the darkness beyond the gate, a figure stepped forward.

Elion.

The dim streetlight illuminated him as he emerged from the shadows, his presence commanding, his expression unreadable. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his suit, as always, was pristine. But there was something different this time.

His eyes.

They weren’t the usual piercing silver.

They glowed.

A deep, dangerous red.

Raelynn’s breath hitched.

Axel immediately stepped in front of her, his body tense, his stance protective. His heart pounded against his ribs, but his face remained defiant.

"Anywhere but here," Axel said evenly, his voice calm despite the storm brewing inside him.

Elion tilted his head slightly, his lips curving into something that wasn’t quite a smile. It was dangerous. Amused, even. But beneath it—rage.

"How bold of you," Elion murmured, taking another slow step forward. His movements were unhurried, almost lazy, but the weight behind them was suffocating. "You seem to believe you have a choice in this matter."

Axel didn’t waver. "She’s not a prisoner," he said sharply. "She gets to decide for herself."

Elion’s eyes flickered toward Raelynn. "Is that so?"

Raelynn, caught between them, felt her throat tighten. Her gaze darted between Axel’s determined stance and Elion’s chilling presence.

She didn’t know what to do.

Elion wasn’t hurting her. He never had. But this side of him—this cold, distant, unreadable side—it terrified her.

"Raelynn," Axel urged, his voice softer now. "Come with me."

Elion’s eyes darkened further.

"Raelynn," he echoed, his voice velvety smooth, deceptively calm. "Tell me. Do you truly wish to leave?"

Raelynn opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Axel turned to her, his voice insistent. "You don’t owe him anything."

Elion’s gaze flickered dangerously.

"I saved her," he said, his voice now laced with quiet fury.

"And now you’re keeping her like a bird in a cage." Axel’s fists clenched. "What’s the difference?"

The tension between them thickened.

Raelynn’s heart pounded. The weight of their words pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe.

Raelynn’s mind raced as the words exchanged between Axel and Elion settled like a heavy weight in the air. She could feel the tension hanging over them, thick and suffocating, and all she wanted was for the storm to stop. But it didn’t, not yet. Not when there was so much between them, so many unspoken things. The bitterness in Axel’s voice, the hurt in Elion’s gaze—it was all too much, and she was caught in the middle. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

She didn’t want this.

She didn’t want to be the reason for the conflict between these two men. She didn’t want to feel trapped, and yet here she was, standing in the midst of their storm.

Axel had been so certain, so sure that he was doing what was best for her, and maybe he was. His anger was a reflection of his care, his determination to get her out of this place, out of Elion’s grasp. But Elion—Elion was so calm, so collected, as if he were still trying to convince her that what he had to offer was the right path, that he was her savior. The difference in the way they spoke, in the way they carried themselves, was stark.

Raelynn glanced down at her trembling hands, feeling a tightening in her chest. She didn’t want to leave. Not in the way Axel was suggesting. She had grown used to this place, for better or worse. It had been her prison, but it was also all she had known. It wasn’t just the walls of the Vaelorian estate that kept her here—it was the people, the life that had slowly become hers, despite how much she had fought it. She wasn’t sure she could walk away from it all, not just like this, not without some understanding.

But then there was Axel. The promise in his eyes, the urgency in his voice—it was so real, so genuine. He wanted to take her with him, away from all this. His touch had been warm when he had held her hand earlier, offering her an escape, a chance to breathe outside these confines. He’d told her to trust him, and she wanted to, more than anything. The feeling of freedom, of being cared for, was almost too overwhelming to accept.

But then there was Elion.

She turned her head just slightly, meeting his gaze. His expression had shifted, no longer filled with fury but with something else—a mixture of concern and regret. His eyes were soft now, and for a moment, she almost forgot how much he had tried to control her life.

Then—

Axel made his choice for her.

His grip tightened around her wrist.

And then, without another word—

He ran.