His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 152

**Chapter 152**

**Claire’s POV**

As the sun ascended to its zenith, casting warm rays through the classroom windows, I felt as if someone had taken my brain, tossed it into a blender with ice, and then reinserted it upside down. The sensation was disorienting, a swirling chaos that made it impossible to think straight.

The teacher’s voice droned on in the background, a monotonous hum that seemed to blend into the walls around me. I was desperately trying to focus, really putting in the effort, but the words on the board danced and shifted, refusing to settle into anything coherent. It was as if they were mocking my struggle.

Typically, this class was one I navigated with ease. It was a subject I usually approached with confidence, without the urge to dramatically collapse onto the floor in despair. But today was different. The moment the teacher posed a question, a collective groan echoed through the classroom, and I felt a flicker of hope. The answer lingered at the edge of my consciousness, a faint glimmer of light that I could almost grasp.

Yet, whenever I reached for that elusive answer, my mind fizzled out, leaving me with a blank slate—a stark, empty void. I stared down at my notebook, willing the information to resurface, but it remained stubbornly absent. A dull, rhythmic throb pulsed in my temples, and I fought the urge to slam my head onto the desk in frustration.

“Claire?” The teacher’s voice cut through the haze, tinged with a hint of optimism. “Would you like to give it a try?”

In any other circumstance, I would have responded without a second thought. But at that moment, the words felt trapped behind an invisible barrier, refusing to budge. I managed a small shake of my head, silently pleading for her not to press further.

She simply nodded, returning to her lecture, but the look she shot my way was unmistakable, especially to Jessica, who twisted in her seat to check on me, her brow arched in concern.

I mouthed “later,” knowing my voice would betray me if I attempted to speak aloud.

Finally, when the bell rang, signaling the end of class, I felt as though I had been swimming in a fog. I packed my books with a slow, almost robotic precision, telling myself that all I needed was a good night’s sleep. The past few days had been a whirlwind of activities, endless preparations, and emotional turmoil. It was only natural to feel exhausted. Anyone would feel the weight of fatigue pressing down on them.

But as I stepped into the hallway, a sudden wave of dizziness crashed over me, so intense that I had to grasp the edge of a locker to steady myself. For a brief moment, the corridor blurred before snapping back into focus. My wolf, usually calm and collected unless something was amiss, stirred awake with a startled growl echoing in my mind.

“Elijah,” she whispered, a mix of urgency and concern lacing her tone.

My gaze darted around the hallway, half-expecting him to materialize like a guardian, ready to shield me from whatever was wrong. But he was nowhere to be found. Just students milling about, laughing, chatting, and grumbling about homework—utterly normal. I yearned to feel normal too.

Yet the dizziness persisted, intensifying with each step toward my locker, as if I were dragging heavy weights instead of my own feet. My breath came in shallow gasps, and my hands turned cold and trembled uncontrollably, a sensation I couldn’t ignore.

“Are you okay?” someone asked as I stumbled slightly, my balance wavering.

I nodded, even though the hallway began to tilt again. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just—”

But I didn’t get the chance to finish my sentence.

The world tilted sharply, and I felt myself sliding sideways, the edges of my vision blurring into a haze. Gasps erupted around me, voices rising in alarm and confusion. Somewhere in the distance, I heard someone shout my name.

Hands reached out for me, but I was already falling. The floor rushed up to meet me, and everything faded into darkness before I could even register the impact.

When I regained consciousness, the first sensation that enveloped me was warmth. Someone was holding my hand. The second thing I noticed was the throbbing headache, a deep, pulsating ache radiating from behind my eyes.

“What…” My voice emerged as a weak croak, barely audible.

“Claire?” Jessica’s voice broke through the fog, soft and shaky. “Thank goodness, you’re awake.”

I blinked slowly, the blurry shapes around me gradually sharpening into focus. I found myself lying on one of the infirmary beds, tucked under the scratchy cream blanket the school used for emergencies. The fluorescent lights above buzzed incessantly, far too bright for my aching head.

To my left sat Jessica, her grip on my hand firm, as if she feared I might slip away again. On my right stood Elijah, arms crossed tightly, his jaw clenched, eyes fixed on me with an intensity that suggested he had been watching over me like a hawk. At the foot of the bed, a girl I didn’t recognize hovered awkwardly, her short curls framing wide eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and concern, as if she had just witnessed a live firework display and was unsure of how to react.

I stared at her for a moment, my voice barely above a whisper. “Uh… hi?”

She flushed, her cheeks turning a deep shade of crimson. “I-I helped catch you.”

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