His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 168

**Chapter 168**

**Claire’s POV**

The sharp chime of the first bell reverberated through the hallways, a stark reminder that time was an unforgiving master, relentless and swift.

As I stepped into the bustling courtyard, I was enveloped by a symphony of voices, laughter, and the unmistakable scent of rain that still clung to the air after this morning’s drizzle. The students moved about with backpacks slung casually over their shoulders, each lost in their own world, yet collectively forming a vibrant tapestry of teenage life.

Elijah fell into step beside me with an ease that felt instinctual, his stride relaxed and confident. Yet, I could sense his wolf keenly attuned to the undercurrents of the environment—the way students averted their gazes, the slight shifts in their stances, the invisible lines of hierarchy that were so palpable even before the first class began.

I tried to push those observations aside, focusing instead on the crumpled paper in my hand: an announcement for our upcoming project. As I stood before my locker, scanning the sheet, my heart raced unexpectedly.

“Group assignments,” I muttered under my breath, the words tasting bitter.

Elijah glanced over, his brow arching slightly in surprise. “Already?” he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

“Yes,” I replied, flipping the paper so he could see the names listed. “And guess who I’ve been paired with.”

His eyes quickly darted down the list, and I could almost see the gears turning in his mind, that familiar calculating look settling behind his piercing blue gaze. “Oof,” he said flatly, the humor in his tone forcing a laugh from me. “That could be… entertaining. I didn’t think his parents would actually enroll him here.”

“Entertaining?” I echoed incredulously. “You mean it’s a nightmare disguised as a student.”

“Potentially,” he conceded, pushing off the locker with a casual grace. “But you’ve always had a knack for managing chaos. I’m confident you’ll navigate this one too.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help but appreciate the hint of faith in his voice. “I have to, don’t I?”

Literature was our first class, and as I entered the room, it felt like stepping into a meticulously crafted arena, each desk arranged in clusters like a battlefield awaiting its warriors. The instructor was already at the board, gesturing animatedly, laying out the expectations for the group project with a precise and deliberate cadence.

“Pairings are fixed,” he announced, his voice authoritative. “Each group will present in front of the class next week. Originality, coherence, and teamwork will be graded equally.”

I slid into my seat next to my assigned partner, Eli—Elijah’s cousin—and immediately sensed the tension radiating from him. He exuded an easy confidence, the kind that came from being in the spotlight, yet he wielded it like a shield, ready to challenge anyone who dared to encroach on his space.

“Claire,” he said, his tone not welcoming but rather probing, as if testing the waters. “So, what’s your angle on this?”

I met his gaze with steady resolve. “The angle is to create something cohesive, not to engage in a competition of superiority.”

His smirk remained, unfazed. “I prefer bold statements.”

“I prefer a final product that makes sense,” I countered softly, my voice steady. “Bold statements can wait.”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly weighing whether to pursue the argument further. I held my ground, my wolf aware of the tension, its ears flicking at the subtle challenge, but I kept my posture relaxed, my fingers tracing the edge of my notebook as if the world around us was inconsequential.

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