His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 128

**Betrayal Births by Joseph King**

The scent of chalk mingled with the sharp tang of disinfectant, creating an oddly dissonant atmosphere in the school hallway. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something so monumental was unfolding in a setting that appeared so ordinary, almost mundane.

The boy, his demeanor a mix of urgency and anxiety, led us down a narrow corridor. He opened a door that revealed a cramped office space, cluttered but functional. Without hesitation, he rushed to a small desk where a tablet was plugged in, its screen dimly glowing. He unplugged it with a swift motion, tapping the screen with a sense of purpose before turning it toward us.

“Here,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper as he angled the device so we could see.

Displayed on the screen was a digital map, its details somewhat faded, marked with blinking blue dots that pulsed rhythmically. Yet, only one dot held significance—the one tagged with Naomi’s necklace ID.

I leaned in closer, my heart racing as I examined the map. The dot was situated far from the city, well beyond the confines of any familiar territory. It hovered in a vast, uncharted expanse, a blank area that lay outside our pack’s recorded borders. This was a place where no one ventured unless they were fleeing or hiding from something—or someone.

“Why is she all the way out there?” her brother’s voice trembled, betraying his fear. “That place is empty. Even I know it’s empty. What is she doing there?”

Elijah took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as he processed the weight of the situation. He reached out, closing the tablet with a gentle yet firm hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Thank you for helping us today,” he said, his voice measured and calm. “You did the right thing. But please, stay safe and don’t try to contact her until we figure this out.”

The boy nodded, his face pale and bewildered, as if the gravity of our mission was beginning to dawn on him. “Just… please bring her home,” he implored, his voice shaky.

“We will try,” Elijah reassured him, his tone steady, though I could sense the underlying tension.

As we stepped outside into the bright sunlight, the warmth contrasted sharply with the chill of our discovery. Elijah remained silent, his thoughts clearly racing, until we reached the car. Standing next to me, I could see his jaw clenched tight, his eyes narrowed in a fierce determination that felt familiar and unsettling.

“We are not doing this alone,” he finally declared, his voice low but resolute. “If Naomi is out there, and if she is running because she knows she is guilty, then we might not be the only ones searching for her. We need backup.”

He didn’t reach out to Ethan or the council or any officers who might escalate the situation. Instead, he pulled out his phone, typing a single coded message with swift precision. Within fifteen minutes, five guards emerged from behind the trees across the street, as if they had been lying in wait for him all morning.

He briefed them in concise, calm sentences, emphasizing that this was a private matter—something that needed to remain under wraps until we had clarity. The guards nodded, their expressions resolute, ready to follow his lead without question.

Ethan was still tied up in meetings with the higher council, consumed by anger over the rogue incidents and the need to maintain order. This left Elijah with the heavy burden of making decisions that could alter everything.

We climbed into the car, flanked by two bikes and a silent security vehicle trailing behind us. The road out of town twisted sharply, leading us into rougher terrain where the trees grew denser, blocking out the sunlight until it barely kissed the forest floor.

Elijah drove with an intensity that was almost unsettling, his focus razor-sharp, as if he had been subconsciously preparing for this moment all along.

From the passenger seat, I observed him closely, noting how composed he appeared. His pulse was steady, his breathing measured. The moon sickness still lingered within him, but it was subdued, kept at bay by an unidentifiable force.

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