His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 209

Chapter 209

Chapter 209

Claire’s POV

Recovery, as it turned out, did not suit Elijah Hale.

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The terrifying, bone-chilling Alpha-in-waiting who had nearly been paralyzed on the ice had been replaced by a grumpy. restless teenager who was currently losing a fight with a straw.

“I hate this,” Elijah muttered, his voice still a bit gravelly as he tried to maneuver a green smoothie toward his face without tilting his head.

The neck brace was back on-Mom’s orders-making him look like a very handsome, very annoyed high-tech gargoyle.

“It’s spinach and pineapple, Elijah. It’s not poison,” I said, sitting across from him at the kitchen island. I was supposed to be doing my chemistry homework, but watching him struggle was far more entertaining.

“It’s the principle of the thing, Claire. Wolves eat meat. We don’t liquidize the lawn and drink it through a tiny plastic tube.” He finally caught the straw, took a sip, and made a face like he’d just swallowed a puck. “Actually, I take it back. It is poison. My taste buds are dying. Tell my teammates I loved them.”

I laughed, the sound light and genuine, a stark contrast to the heavy dread of the night before. “You’re so dramatic. You’re the captain of the hockey team, not a tragic Shakespearean hero

“I can be both,” he insisted, leaning back carefully. “A tragic hero with incredible hair and a very stiff neck.”

He reached out, trying to snag one of my fries, but I swatted his hand away.

“Doctor’s orders, remember? Anti-inflammatory diet. Greasy fries are the enemy.”

“You’re the enemy,” he grumbled, though his eyes were dancing with that familiar, playful glint. “Since when did you become the health warden? Yesterday you were crying over me, and today you’re withholding sodium. That’s psychological warfare.”

“It’s called tough love,” I countered, popping a fry into my mouth and chewing slowly, making sure he saw every second of it.

Elijah narrowed his eyes. “You’re evil. I’m going to tell Ethan you’re bullying a disabled person.”

“Go ahead. He’ll probably just tell you to drink your lawn juice.”

The kitchen door swung open, and Felix walked in, looking remarkably normal for someone who had been part of a midnight border skirmish.

He was wearing a ‘Puck Off t-shirt and carrying a stack of video game cases.

“How’s the patient?” Felix asked, heading straight for the fridge. Still alive, or has the neck brace claimed his soul?”

“He’s transitioning into a professional vegetable critic,” I informed him.

Felix snorted, grabbing a soda. “Better than a professional benchwarmer. Coach called. He says if you don’t come back by next week, he’s making me the captain. I’ve already prepared my acceptance speech. It mostly involves me taking all the credit and making everyone call me ‘Sir.”

Elijah let out a dry, pained chuckle. “Over my dead body, Felix. You can’t even lead the warm-up stretch without tripping over your own skates.”

“Details, details,” Felix waved a hand dismissively. He looked at me, then back at Elijah, his expression softening just a

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Chapter 209

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“Seriously though, the school is a circus. Everyone’s talking about the hit. There’s a ‘Get Well Elijah’ banner in the hallway so big it’s a fire hazard. People have been pinning glittery hearts to all morning.”

Elijah groaned, covering his face with his hands. “Glitter? Please tell me you’re joking.”

“Nope,” Felix grinned wickedly. “I think I saw some calligraphy of there too. Someone wrote a poem. I think it rhymed ‘puck’ with ‘luck. It was harrowing.”

“I am never going back,” Elijah declared. “I’ll live in this kitchen. 11 become a hermit. Claire can bring me fries in secret while I wither away.”

“I’m not helping you wither,” I said, sliding my chemistry textbook toward him. “In fact, since you’re stuck in that chair and clearly have the mental energy to complain, you can help me with stoichiometry.”

Elijah looked at the page of complex chemical equations and then back at me. He picked up the cup of green smoothie and took a long, resigned sip.

“Suddenly,” he deadpanned, “the glitter hearts don’t seem so bad

Later that afternoon, the house had settled into a quiet hum.

Felix had disappeared to the den to play games, and Mom was out running errands. It was just the two of us in the sunroom -the one place where the light was soft and the chairs were comfortable enough for Elijah’s back.

was propped up on the recliner, his eyes closed. For a moment, he looked peaceful, the tension of being the “Future Alpha” finally ebbing away.

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