His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 184

Chapter 184

Claire’s POV

I woke up with a headache behind my eyes and my wolf curled into a tight, miserable ball in my chest.

The wall between our rooms might as well have been a continent.

I didn’t hear him moving around-no shower running, no footsteps, nothing-until the exact minute he usually left for his run. The front door closed with a soft, deliberate click.

I waited five minutes before going downstairs.

Mom was humming again, flipping pancakes, oblivious. “Morning, sweetie. Elijah already headed out-said he needed extra ice time before school.”

I nodded, throat too tight to answer. Poured coffee I didn’t drink, and ate nothing.

The walk to school was solitary. I took the long route, cutting through the park so I wouldn’t risk running into him.

By the time I reached the gates, the avoidance felt like a living thing sitting on my shoulders.

He was already there, of course-leaning against the brick wall near the senior entrance, surrounded by half the hockey team. Jersey on again for tomorrow’s game rally, and laughing at something Felix said.

He didn’t look over when I passed twenty feet away. Not once.

But I felt it anyway, the pull, the awareness, like a string tied between our ribs yanked tight.

I kept walking.

First period was a blur of charcoal and turpentine in the art studio. Jessica took one look at my face and didn’t ask.

She just slid a fresh sheet of paper toward me and said, “Let’s block out the projection angles.”

We worked in near silence. Every so often I caught myself staring at the door, half expecting him to appear like he had yesterday.

He didn’t.

Between classes, the hallways were worse.

I saw him three times.

First: heading into the weight room with the team. He walked right past me without breaking stride, but his shoulders were rigid, jaw set.

Second: at his locker. I was at mine, twenty feet down the same hall. He slammed the door harder than necessary, books tucked under his arm, and disappeared into the crowd.

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Third: cafeteria doors. I was coming out as he was going in. Our eyes met for half a second-gold flashing in his, pain and anger and something softer all tangled together-before he looked away first.

I spent lunch in the art room again.

Jessica didn’t comment.

Afternoon classes dragged. Chemistry was the worst. We were still paired for the project, but the teacher had us working individually today on research. Elijah sat three rows ahead, back straight, never turning around.

I stared at the back of his neck until my eyes burned.

When the final bell rang, I packed slowly, hoping the room would empty before I had to walk past him.

It almost worked.

I was halfway to the door when Felix appeared, blocking my path with that easy, lopsided grin he always wore.

“Hey, Claire. Got a sec?”

I blinked, dragged out of my spiral. “Uh… sure?”

He leaned against the doorframe, hands in his pockets, looking uncharacteristically awkward. “So, the game tomorrow night-big rivalry thing. Team’s doing a pre-game thing at the diner after practice. Nothing crazy, just food and dumb playlists. I was wondering if you wanted to come.”

I stared at him. Felix was nice-funny, harmless, the kind of guy who flirted with everyone and meant it with no one. But the timing felt like a cosmic joke.

“Like… with the team?” I asked slowly.

AL 1/3

Chapter 184

“Yeah. Spouses, siblings, friends-Coach doesn’t care as long as we’re in bed by curfew.” He shrugged, smile widening.” Thought it might be cool if you showed. You’ve never really hung out with us outside games.”

I opened my mouth-searching for a polite no-when movement behind him caught my eye.

Elijah.

He’d been packing his bag at the front, slower than everyone else. Now he stood frozen by the teacher’s desk, notebook in hand, staring at us.

Felix didn’t notice. He kept talking. “Plus, you know, free fries. Hard to beat free fries.”

I forced a small laugh. “That’s… really sweet, Felix. But I’ve got a ton of showcase prep with Jess, and-”

“Come on,” he coaxed, stepping a little closer, voice dropping playfully. “One night off won’t kill your GPA. And I promise I’ll save you the corner booth. Best lighting for brooding artist vibes.”

He was teasing, light and harmless, but the air in the room shifted anyway.

Elijah moved.

Not fast. Not loud. Just a deliberate stride that brought him up behind Felix in three seconds flat.

“Hey,” he said, voice flat. “Coach wants us on the ice in ten. Bus is leaving.”

Felix turned, surprised but easy. “Yeah, man, I’m coming. Just-”

“Now,” Elijah cut in. The single word carried weight, low and edged.

Felix’s brows lifted. He glanced between us, me standing stiff, Elijah looming like a storm cloud, and understanding flickered across his face. Not the full picture, but enough.

“Right,” Felix said slowly. “On my way.” He shot me an apologetic half-smile. “Offer stands, Claire. No pressure.”

He clapped Elijah on the shoulder as he passed, even though Elijah didn’t react-and disappeared down the hall.

Then it was just us.

The classroom empty. Door half open to the noisy hallway beyond.

Elijah didn’t move closer. He stayed three feet away, bag slung over his shoulder, khuckles white where he gripped the strap.

I couldn’t read his expression. Anger, definitely. Hurt, maybe. Something else I didn’t have a name for.

“You don’t have to protect me from your friends,” I said quietly.

“That wasn’t-” He stopped, jaw working. “Felix is fine. He’s clueless.”

“Then what was that?”

He looked away, throat bobbing. “I don’t know.”

Silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable.

I shifted my weight. “We’re supposed to be working on the project.”

“I know.”

More silence.

He finally met my eyes again. “Are we going to keep doing this?”

The question hung there, raw.

I swallowed. “I don’t know how to stop.”

His shoulders dropped a fraction. “Me neither.”

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