His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 186

Chapter 186

Chapter 186

Claire’s POV

The house was quiet when I got home, but it didn’t feel empty.

It felt charged more like the air before a full moon storm.

Mom and Ethan had gone to some holiday work party downtown. The note on the fridge said they’d be late. The clock read 10:47 p.m.

I showered, changed into soft shorts and an old hoodie, and tried to sketch. The lines came out angry, jagged. My wolf kept pacing, whining, clawing at the inside of my ribs.

I missed him.

I hated missing him.

At 11:32, my phone buzzed on the desk.

Elijah: You still up?

I stared at the screen for a full minute before typing.

Me: Yeah.

Three dots appeared, vanished, appeared again.

Elijah: Front door’s unlocked. Come outside?

My heart stuttered.

Me: It’s freezing.

Elijah: I know. Trust me.

I pulled on socks and slipped down the stairs, careful on the creaky third step. The front door opened soundlessly. Cold night air rushed in, sharp with frost and pine.

He was waiting on the porch steps, back to me, wearing just a thin long-sleeve and jeans. His breath fogged in the porch light. Snow had started falling in soft, fat flakes drifting lazily from the dark sky.

I closed the door behind me and leaned against it.

“Hey,” I said quietly.

He turned. His eyes were already gold-rimmed, wolf close to the surface. He looked tired, beautiful and miserable all at

once.

“Hey,” he echoed.

We stood there for a long moment, snow settling on his hair, on my shoulders.

“I was an idiot,” he said finally, voice rough.

“So was I.”

He shook his head, “No. You were right to be mad. I should’ve handled Audrey better from the start. And Felix-” He huffed a small laugh. “He’s like a golden retriever. Zero boundaries. But it’s never been anything but friendship. Never will be.”

“I know, I admitted. “My wolf just… saw everyone else getting pieces of you that I can’t have in public. It hurt.”

He stood slowly, closing the distance until he was right in front of me. Close enough that I had to tilt my head back.

“I don’t want anyone else’s pieces,” he said softly. “I want all of yours. And I want you to have all of mine.” Snowflakes caught in his lashes. I reached up without thinking, brushing them away.

His hand caught mine, holding it against his cheek. His skin was warm despite the cold.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“Me too.”

He leaned in, forehead resting against mine. We breathed the same air, slow and careful. Then his wolf rumbled-low, needy-and mine answered instantly, rising up like a tide.

He pulled back just enough to look at me. “Shift with me?

I blinked. “Here?”

Successfully unlocked!

“Backyard. The woods are close and no one’s around.” His thumb traced my wrist, right over my racing pulse. “Just us.

1/3

Chapter 186

Just wolves.”

My breath caught. We’d never run together like this since everything changed between us.

I nodded.

We moved silently around the side of the house, past the garage, into the shadowed backyard where the trees started. Snow muffled everything. The world felt hushed, waiting.

He pulled his shirt off first, folding it on the porch railing. I followed, hoodie and shorts left in a neat pile. The cold bit at bare skin, but adrenaline-and him-kept me warm.

We shifted at the same time.

Bones reshaped, fur spilled over skin, senses sharpened. The snow smelled clean and bright. The moon, half-hidden behind clouds, still called to us.

His wolf was huge-black fur glossy under the faint light, shoulders powerful, tail high. He turned to me, gold eyes soft.

My wolf was smaller, silver-gray, lean. I shook out my coat, paws sinking into fresh powder.

He stepped closer, nose brushing mine in gentle greeting. Then along my neck, my shoulder, scenting, claiming, reassuring. I nuzzled back, pressing into him, breathing him in until the last traces of anger melted away.

He play-bowed suddenly, front paws down, tail wagging, and yipped softly.

I answered with a joyful leap, nipping at his ear.

We ran.

Not far, just deep enough into the trees that the house disappeared behind us. Snow flew under our paws. He let me lead for a while, then overtook me in a burst of speed, circling back to herd me gently, playfully.

At a small clearing, he slowed.

I tackled him.

We rolled in the snow, a tangle of fur and mock growls, until I ended up on my back with him looming over me, massive, warm, protective. His tongue swiped once across my muzzle, affectionate and teasing.

I shifted back first.

above

The cold hit harder in human skin, but he followed instantly, shifting mid-motion so he landed above me-human arms braced on either side of my head, body shielding mine from the snow.

We were both naked, breathless, laughing softly.

“Hi,” he whispered, snow in his hair, cheeks flushed.

“Hi,” I answered, hands sliding up his back.

His mouth found mine slow at first, tasting snow and apology and want. Then deeper, hungrier. I arched up into him, legs wrapping around his waist on instinct.

He groaned against my lips, hips pressing down just enough to make me gasp.

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