His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 198

Chapter 198

Chapter 198

Elijah’s POV

Monday was a cold shower after the best weekend of my life.

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Practice started at five-thirty in the morning-Coach wanted us n the ice early to watch film on Ridgeview before classes.

The rink was freezing, breath fogging in front of us as we sat on the benches in full gear, watching last year’s game on the projector.

Mason Reed’s face filled the screen every few minutes, smirking after a cheap shot or talking trash to the ref.

I felt my jaw tighten the same way it always did. The guy had been a thorn in my side since we were fifteen.

Same smug

attitude, same dirty plays, same pack backing him up like he was untouchable.

Felix nudged me with his elbow. “You’re growling, Cap.”

I hadn’t even noticed. “Just remembering how good it’s gonna feel to shut him up Friday.”

The guys laughed, but Coach shot me a look. “Focus on clean play. We beat them with skill, not revenge.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered.

By the time the final bell rang at school, my body was already sofe.

Afternoon practice had been brutal-bag skates until my legs burned, shooting drills until my wrists ached.

All I wanted was to get home, shower, and find Claire.

She’d been quiet since her appointment yesterday. I’d seen the new pill bottles on her dresser, heard the word “restrictions” and felt my wolf snarl inside me.

It wasn’t fair. She was the strongest person I knew, and her own body kept trying to hold her back.

I beat everyone home. The house was quiet, sunlight slanting through the kitchen windows.

I grabbed a protein shake from the fridge and leaned against the counter, scrolling through my phone. A text from Claire popped up.

Claire: Running late. Jessica needed help with cleanup from showcase photos. Home soon.

Me: Take your time. I’ll save you dinner.

Claire: You’re the best.

I smiled despite the ache in my chest. She had no idea.

Margaret got home first, arms full of grocery bags and baby stuf catalogs. “Hey, Elijah,” she called, dumping everything on the island. “How was practice?”

“Long and heartless,” I said, helping her unload. “Ridgeview wee always is.”

She nodded sympathetically. “You’ll handle them. You always de

Dad came in next, loosening his tie. “Heard the scouts are coming Friday,” he said, clapping me on the shoulder. “Big one.”

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Chapter 198

“Yeah.” I forced a grin. “No pressure.”

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Claire finally walked through the door just as dinner hit the table-Mom’s lasagna, garlic bread, salad.

She looked tired, her hair in a messy bun, backpack slung over one shoulder. But when she saw me, her face softened.

“Hi,” she said quietly, dropping her bag by the stairs.

“Hi yourself,” I replied.

We kept it normal through dinner-talking about school, the bally registry Mom was obsessed with, a few baby names, even though mum kept drifting away from the conversation. We also talked about Dad’s work project and his office stuffs, all just normal family chat.

Claire laughed at the right times, passed the bread when asked, but I caught the way her fingers worried at the edge of her sleeve.

The new restrictions were sitting heavy on her. I could feel her wolf’s anxious energy throughout, even though she was trying to hide it.

After dishes, I headed upstairs to finish homework.

My door was cracked open twenty minutes later, and Claire slipped in without knocking. She closed it softly and leaned back against it, just looking at me.

I set my laptop aside. “Rough day?”

She crossed the room and climbed onto the bed beside me, curling into my side like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Not rough. Just… a lot.”

I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer. “Tell me.”

She was quiet for a minute, head on my chest. “Classes were fine Jessica keeps teasing me about you in the most subtle ways possible. But I can’t stop thinking about what Dr. Adrian said. The whole ordeal left me half believing I was made of glass.”

“You’re not,” I said firmly. “You’re the toughest person I know. If any word could literally show strength, then I would use it.”

She made a small sound. “Doesn’t feel like it.”

I tilted her chin up so she had to look at me. “Listen to me. We’ll follow the rules. New meds, take it

whatever he says. easy, But it doesn’t change who you are. You’re still the girl who carriel the relay team, who made half the school cry with her art. My girl.”

Her eyes softened. “Your girl,” she repeated quietly, like she was testing the words.

“Always.”

She leaned up and kissed me-slow, sweet, full of everything we couldn’t say downstairs. I kissed her back, hands gentle in her hair, careful not to push too far.

When we pulled apart, she rested her forehead against mine.

“Friday’s the game that everyone’s been talking about,” I said. “Rlgeview.”

“I know, even though I don’t know shit about hockey,” she murmured. “But you’ll be amazing.”

“Will you be there?”

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