My Baby Daddy Isn't Human-Chapter 225: In The Alley

The night stretched endlessly above Axel as he stood in the middle of a narrow, dimly lit alleyway. The air was damp, thick with the scent of old brick and rain-soaked pavement, the occasional flickering streetlight casting long, broken shadows across the walls. The city hummed beyond these walls, but here, it was quiet—too quiet for his liking.

His fingers tightened around the phone in his hand, his jaw clenching as he stared at the screen. No response. Again. He had called Raelynn multiple times. Texted. Nothing. It wasn’t like her to ignore him for this long. A cold knot twisted in his gut, his instincts screaming at him that something was wrong.

Axel’s breath was steady, but his body was tense. He was a man known for his calm, his ability to think clearly under pressure, but right now, frustration was gnawing at his control. His thumb hovered over the phone’s screen, then curled into a fist. For a split second, he wanted to throw the damn device against the alley wall. But then, with a sharp exhale, he stopped himself.

It wasn’t the phone’s fault.

His free hand raked through his hair, the movement sharp, impatient. Where the hell are you, Raelynn? His thoughts spiraled. Had something happened to her? Was she with Elion? He didn’t trust that bastard, not one bit.

Axel had been keeping an eye on her ever since she got involved with him, and now, with no way to reach her, every instinct told him that this was far from normal.

A gust of wind swept through the alley, carrying the faint scent of distant rain. He straightened his posture, shoving his phone back into his pocket. He wasn’t alone for long.

Footsteps echoed from the far end of the alley, approaching at a steady pace. Axel turned his head slightly, already knowing who it was before he even laid eyes on him.

"Axel!" A bright, almost too cheerful voice cut through the stillness. "Man, it’s been a while. You look as stiff as ever."

Axel let out a slow breath, his expression blank as he watched the man approaching. Green hair. Of course. The vibrant color almost seemed to glow under the dim lighting, making him stand out like a beacon in the dark.

Axel’s gaze swept over him once before he muttered, "Reiner, you seriously need to do something with that hair of yours. It’s too damn obvious."

Reiner grinned, running a hand through his unnaturally bright locks as if admiring them. "What, this? You don’t like it?" He smirked. "Maybe you should take some style tips from me instead of walking around looking like you stepped out of a funeral every day."

Axel didn’t bother responding. He just lifted an eyebrow, waiting.

Reiner chuckled, clearly amused, before shaking his head. "Fine, fine. No appreciation for personal expression, huh? Whatever. You here for the results?"

Axel’s gaze darkened slightly, his posture straightening as he nodded. "You got everything?"

Reiner lifted his hands in mock offense. "Of course I do. When have I ever let you down?"

Axel didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. Reiner was the only one he could truly rely on when it came to information—things that couldn’t be found through normal means. If there was something Axel couldn’t get his hands on, Reiner could. And right now, that was exactly what he needed.

Thank God his friend had finished his task. Now, Axel could finally start his.

Axel leaned back slightly, studying Reiner with a contemplative expression. Sometimes, he wondered why the manager didn’t just give this kind of task to Reiner instead.

Reiner was resourceful, had the connections, and wasn’t exactly bound by the same rules Axel was. If there was anyone who could dig up information without breaking a sweat, it was him.

And yet, the manager had chosen Axel.

Guess that meant I was still the best fit for the job.

Even so, tonight proved that he wasn’t above needing a little help. As much as he hated to admit it, there were times when Reiner’s skills filled in the gaps he couldn’t cover on his own. Axel might have been sharp, careful, and efficient, but he didn’t have the same kind of access Reiner did.

"Alright, let’s hear it, then. What did you find out?"

Reiner’s lips curled into a smug grin, as if he had been waiting for Axel to say that. "Oh, you’re going to love this one."

Axel gave him a dry look. "Doubt it. Just spill."

Reiner pulled out a folder from inside his leather jacket, flipping it once between his fingers before handing it over. "Here you go. Everything you asked for. The woman you’re looking into—Raelynn Moore—worked as a cook’s assistant before she got fired. That happened right around the time she met Elion." He tilted his head slightly, watching Axel’s expression. "The rest? You can read in there."

Axel took the folder without a word, unfolding it carefully. His eyes scanned over the details, his expression giving nothing away. But internally, he had to admit—Reiner had outdone himself this time.

Reiner gave a lazy shrug. "Oh, and don’t forget," he added, taking a step back, "burn it when you’re done. Don’t want anything trailing back to me."

Axel smirked faintly, though there was no humor in it. "Yeah. I know."

Reiner gave him a mock salute. "Well, then, I’ll leave you to it. Try not to stress yourself out too much, alright? You’ll get wrinkles."

Axel didn’t even dignify that with a response.

Reiner let out a light laugh before turning on his heel, his boots clicking softly against the pavement as he walked in the opposite direction. He didn’t look back. Within moments, he disappeared into the night, his green hair the last thing Axel saw before the darkness swallowed him completely.

Axel stood there for a moment, his fingers pressing into the folder as he stared after his retreating form.

Then, finally, he exhaled slowly and turned the other way.

He needed to read this. Now.