His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 149

**TITLE: Betrayal Births by Joseph King 149**
**CONTENT: Chapter 149**

**Claire’s POV**

As we stepped out of the auditorium, my mind was still racing, the remnants of the relay echoing in my thoughts. The tremors that had once gripped me had subsided, yet the surge of adrenaline lingered in my veins, making my hands and knees feel unsteady. The hallway lights seemed almost blinding, the chatter of students felt overwhelming, and the air was thick with warmth. Jessica strolled beside me, utterly unfazed, as if she hadn’t just witnessed my near meltdown on stage.

“You were amazing, Claire,” she remarked, giving my shoulder a playful nudge. “Like, seriously good! I honestly didn’t think you could pull that off with all that pressure weighing on you.”

I let out a snort, unable to hide my amusement. “So, I wasn’t a complete public embarrassment?”

“Nope! You were all serious and studious,” she teased, wiggling her fingers in an exaggerated manner. “You were like a little academic warrior princess up there.”

“Okay, please stop,” I chuckled, shaking my head.

“I refuse! Teasing you is a daily ritual now,” she declared, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

I was still grinning when Jessica suddenly slowed her pace, turning to face me with a thoughtful expression. “Hey… how about we grab lunch? Like, a real lunch. Not the ‘Claire stares at bread because she forgot to eat’ kind.”

I blinked in surprise. It felt a bit out of the blue, but honestly? The idea of lunch was appealing. My jittery nerves could use some solid food to settle them down.

“Yeah,” I replied, a smile creeping onto my face. “Sure. Let’s—”

But before I could finish, a familiar voice called out from behind us.

“Claire?”

I didn’t even need to turn around to know it was Elijah. There was a certain tone in the way he said my name, a mix of concern and mild annoyance, as if he was expecting to find me tripping over my own feet or colliding with a wall.

I turned anyway, curiosity piqued.

There he stood, hands tucked casually into the pockets of his hoodie, his hair slightly tousled from running. His gaze flicked between me and Jessica, an unspoken question hanging in the air.

“That second round was incredible. You really nailed it! What’s going on?” he asked, his voice deliberate and slow.

“Oh,” I responded, shifting slightly to the side so he could see both of us. “Jessica asked if we could go for lunch.”

A fleeting expression crossed his face, a brief moment of contemplation, before he shrugged it off with his usual calm demeanor.

“Yeah. Sounds good.”

We began walking toward the cafeteria, the hallways buzzing with students animatedly discussing the event. Fragments of conversations drifted past us like leaves caught in a gentle breeze—”Did you see section C?” “Trey totally froze,” “Claire actually killed it,” and so on. I tried to tune them out, but my wolf was more attuned, preening with pride at the compliments.

Upon arriving at the cafeteria, we spotted an empty table and Jessica wasted no time in plopping down first, immediately launching into an enthusiastic tale about the R3K project the juniors were working on.

“So, the particle scanner kept overheating, and Mr. Bello said if it melts one more time, he’s resigning,” she recounted, her eyes wide with the thrill of the story.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Honestly? I support him.”

Elijah rested his elbow on the table, listening intently, his demeanor relaxed. He wasn’t grinning broadly, but there was a soft, engaged look on his face that always made my stomach flutter just a bit.

Jessica continued, her hands animatedly gesturing as she spoke. “If we can get the readings stable, the entire model changes! Like—”

And that was when she appeared.

She materialized beside our table as if conjured by some unseen force.

The first thing that hit me was her perfume—a sickly sweet scent that clung to the air like a thick fog. Then came her voice, sharp and piercing enough to cut through the atmosphere.

“Elijah!”

Jessica froze mid-sentence, and Elijah’s expression shifted, looking as though someone had just pressed the wrong button on a remote control. I raised an eyebrow, surprised by her boldness.

She practically launched herself toward him, leaning in close, her smile far too bright.

“Oh my gosh, I didn’t know you were here!” she exclaimed breathlessly. “If I had known, I would’ve—”

Her gaze finally landed on me, and I could practically feel my wolf perk up, ready for whatever was about to unfold.

The girl’s expression shifted in an instant. Sweetness turned to something decidedly sour. Warmth morphed into… hostility?

Fantastic.

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