His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 145

**TITLE: Betrayal Births by Joseph King 145**
**Chapter 145**

**Claire’s POV**

Elijah strolled a few steps ahead of me, his hands buried deep in the pockets of his hoodie, his shoulders tense in a way I recognized all too well. It was a posture that screamed contemplation, perhaps even overthinking, and I could sense the struggle within him—a silent battle against the urge to voice whatever thoughts were swirling in his mind. I trailed behind him along the sidewalk that led toward the parking lot, my bag bouncing lightly against my hip, a constant reminder of the weight of the day. My heart was still tangled in the aftermath of that ridiculous encounter with Audrey.

I really didn’t want to care about it. I genuinely wished I could brush it off, but my mind had an annoying habit of clinging to thoughts I never intended to entertain.

As we reached the car, Elijah paused, his hand hovering over the door handle, and I could feel the air thickening with unspoken words.

“You okay?” he asked, his gaze fixed on the ground, avoiding my eyes.

I blinked, momentarily taken aback. “Why wouldn’t I be?” I shot back, trying to sound nonchalant.

He shrugged one shoulder, a gesture that seemed to carry an entire conversation in its simplicity. “You were too quiet for that entire walk.”

“I’m always quiet,” I replied, attempting to dismiss his concern.

But he turned to me with a flat look that pierced through my defenses. “Not with me you’re not.”

In that moment, the tension coiling tightly in my chest began to loosen, just a fraction. He had noticed my silence, of course he had.

“I’m fine,” I insisted, swinging open the passenger door with a little more force than necessary. “A full day at this school can really drain the life out of you…”

It was a lie, a terrible one at that, but still a lie.

He didn’t press further, simply nodding once before starting the engine. As we pulled out of the campus, the drive was slow, the traffic crawling along as students crossed the street without a care, some waving to their friends. The radio played softly, a mellow tune that filled the silence between us, making it feel almost fragile.

I caught Elijah stealing glances at me from the corner of his eye, and though he seemed to try to conceal it, I was all too aware of his scrutiny.

Finally, as we merged onto the main road, he let out a breath he seemed to have been holding.

“You know,” he began cautiously, “you don’t have to pretend around me.”

I turned my gaze toward the window, avoiding his penetrating stare. “I’m not pretending,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

He scoffed softly, a sound filled with disbelief. “You get this look when something’s bothering you.”

“What look?” I asked, feigning ignorance.

“That one,” he said, pointing at my face with a teasing grin.

I swatted his hand away, but despite my best efforts, my lips twitched into a reluctant smile. “You’re annoying.”

“Yeah, but I’m right,” he said, his tone softening.

The teasing should have irked me, yet it only made warmth creep up my neck, a fluttering sensation I couldn’t quite shake off.

He smoothly changed lanes, his focus unwavering on the road ahead. “If it’s about earlier…” he began, and I felt a knot tighten in my stomach.

“It’s not,” I interjected quickly, cutting him off.

A pause settled over us, thick and heavy, as he waited in silence, allowing the moment to stretch and giving me ample space to reconsider my refusal.

But I didn’t. Because acknowledging it would mean admitting that watching some random girl moon over him had twisted my insides in a way I wasn’t ready to confront. It was a thought I didn’t want to entertain, so I remained silent, and he let it go.

Minutes passed in a comfortable stillness, but just as I began to relax, life threw a curveball our way. A figure darted into the road right in front of the car.

“Elijah!” I shouted, my heart racing.

He hit the brakes instantly, and we both squinted to see the person who had interrupted our moment. My inner wolf groaned in recognition.

Trey.

The tall guy from the academic relay tryouts, the one everyone claimed had a superiority complex and the intellect of a golden retriever. He jogged up to my window, his hair tousled and his eyes wide, radiating a sense of urgency.

“I’m just saying he’s weird,” he added, trying to sound indifferent.

“Right.”

“His elbows are everywhere. He trips over air. And what was that smile? He smiled like he wanted approval for breathing,” Elijah said, shaking his head in disbelief.

At that, I lost it, laughter spilling from my lips, bright and unexpected, filling the car with a lightness that had been missing.

Instantly, the tension from earlier evaporated, and Elijah turned to me, his entire demeanor softening. “There it is.”

“What?” I asked, genuinely confused.

“That laugh,” he said, a smirk forming on his lips. “Thought I scared it away.”

“You didn’t,” I replied softly, feeling a warmth spread through me.

His eyes glimmered with something that made my heart flutter violently, but we didn’t delve into it further.

He drove us home in a comfortable silence, and by the time we parked, the sky had deepened into a rich blue, the porch lights flickering on to cast a warm glow over the house.

As we walked inside together, I could feel the familiar sense of home wrapping around me.

Mom was in the living room, a cozy blanket draped over her legs as she flipped through channels, and Ethan was absorbed in something on his tablet. The moment they spotted us, smiles broke across their faces.

“Welcome back,” Mom said warmly.

“Dinner’s in the oven,” Ethan added, his voice cheerful.

Elijah headed upstairs first, and I lingered for just a moment, savoring the comfort of being home before following him. My room was dimly lit, exuding a soft, inviting atmosphere. I quickly changed into something more comfortable, washed my face, and let my hair cascade loosely around my shoulders.

Now, I had this ridiculous relay to prepare for, and despite the unease still lingering in my chest, I couldn’t help but feel a spark of anticipation.