His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 194

Chapter 194

wel stred again, malies and woed bruthing apart of date for turmoil moling of the

wow aching decanter for made my

etainer

I pritet me up dowly on the pulling the Wake and my filter Tipth 1 sed gray “you look like yo about a bit. Tak me

Br lined his head,

red and man. For a ling me be a ning juhke a mea farthing for the

gt word. I waned leting the site ad unir fer amaze

Foals be exhaled coming a hand though he bar The wife he cut un mugh. On fir ground par by bathing and I have even more fat I want ir teatro vien i hagenet”

The came when met me went worthy T

Ee book in head sating in and using the smal mom in to states.

Best crefully on the edge of the cu die gh tai quid

fre varit coming of him. 1 va avid bar night.

cat the words thing or is frey then toned to long

agy and set and I amet ir al a you. I’m so Care I tea neamu make ni ime mitingis tack Youre aur. You’re the mia thing besing me

Mytmatonated I reached for his hand lacing oring tele. Iva will no. I shut was out stead of being Bur heating you my I might leave you one day, I hurt becast dose fet this exact väst II end up doing Ser because I var but because I’m afraid of cuming eeving Jr You”

Se lower my boat uw its presng a stñ is to my knuckles. Ton could never cun anything for me. You’re my future Intle wit Enemy puut pran of

The nickname mehed something site me I shitet dose in our tes muched Your wall is hurting 1 ugend “1 an fed I

Ele diosed teges for a wand adding. Se’s an agita Bolting back the chim the mark the full band, it’s Bar walking assword with heat my soul mang I dream about in ene ng-your neck under my mouth mark your skin. ocher knowing you’re mine fever and then I wake up and sill inding, and i ferske I’m falling you both.”

I cagged has chers, feeling the fant stuttle under my palm. “Ver nu falling anyone. My wall feel the same pull. She Coin your fari junas badly Bur were dangths the ngi wa Elin. For us. For the family. We’ll get there.”

Feed my much es dining with grid Tknow I need you so much it scares me sometimes. The thought

Swan” I sad fromly

The fauner been as dappeared the kraand in shows me mar no pull away if I washed I didn’t

Cur lips start as a ktos that wearind prostat ha apology, vetbet prose all wrapped sagrihen, has qux ich despesand uzasa

We had defineby mantrach ather

His hurted did a fur back of my te imperforating any wound and has shoulders putang Sturm clown

13

10:35 Tue, Dec 30

Chapter 194

R

66%

Et 55 vouchers

We poured everything we couldn’t say into that kiss: forgiveness longing, the fierce love that had carried us this far.

When we finally parted, foreheads resting together, we were both breathing harder.

“Better?” he asked, his voice low and tender.

“Much better.” I smiled, brushing my thumb across his lower lip

He helped me stand, steadying me when the room swayed for a second. “You’re sure you’re strong enough for the stage?”

“I’m sure,” I said. “I need this tonight.”

He walked me to the gym doors, his hand at the small of my back until the very last moment. Just before we stepped into the crowd, he stopped me in the shadowed hallway.

“You look breathtaking in this dress,” he murmured, eyes tracing over me like he was memorizing every detail. “Black suits you. Makes your eyes stand out even more.”

I felt my cheeks warm. “Thank you.”

He glanced around quickly, then stole one last quick, soft kiss-warm and full of pride. “Go shine, Claire. I’ll be in the back, watching every second.”

I squeezed his hand once and walked toward the stage, heart lighter than it had been all day.

The lights dimmed again as the principal welcomed everyone back and introduced the senior artists.

Jessica and I took the small platform together. When the spotlight found my series on the wall, the projections began their slow dance-gold light shifting over charcoal shadows, wolves appearing to breathe.

I stepped to the microphone, took a steadying breath, and let the words come from the deepest place inside me.

“These pieces began as private thoughts I was afraid to speak out loud,” I started, my voice carrying through the quiet gym. “They are about the parts of ourselves we keep hidden—not because they are wrong, but because they are precious. The wolves you see are guardians of secrets, carriers of fierce love that does not always fit neatly into the world we live in.”

I paused, letting the projections move behind me, light catching on the fractured moons I had drawn so many sleepless nights.

“Each fractured moon represents longing-the kind that pulls at you even when you try to ignore it. It is the ache of wanting something with every piece of your soul, yet knowing the timing the circumstances, the risks are never quite right. These paintings are my way of saying that even in the waiting, even in the shadows, there is beauty. There is strength. There is a wholeness waiting on the other side of fear.”

My voice grew quieter, more emotional. “They are about loving someone so completely that it changes how you see everything-light, dark, yourself. About choosing patience not because the love is small, but because it is vast and worth protecting. About believing that one day the shadows will part and the moon will be whole again.”

I looked out into the audience then, finding faces softened by tears-Mom pressing a tissue to her eyes, Jessica smiling proudly, strangers nodding like they felt it too.

Even from the back, I could feel Elijah’s gaze, warm and steady on me.

“Thank you for seeing them with me tonight,” I finished simply.

2/3

<

10:35 Tue, Dec 30RD