His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 212

Chapter 212

Chapter 212

Claire’s POV

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The relative peace of the sunroom didn’t last long. By the next afternoon, the “rest” phase of Elijah’s recovery had officially entered the “agitated predator” phase.

I found him in the garage. He wasn’t supposed to be in the garage.

He was supposed to be on the recliner, finishing the book I’d bought him, but instead, he was staring down a set of dumbbells like they had insulted his entire lineage.

“If you pick those up, I am calling your father,” I said, leaning against the doorframe with my arms crossed.

Elijah jumped, his hand jerking away from the weight rack. He winced, the movement pulling at his neck, and let out a frustrated growl. “I’m losing muscle mass, Claire. I can feel it. I’m going to go back to the rink looking like a string bean.”

“A string bean with a functional spine,” I reminded him, walking over to stand between him and the weights. “You heard the doctor. Another week of low impact. Low. Impact.”

“Pacing is low impact,” he countered, his eyes dark with that restless wolf energy. “Thinking about lifting is low impact. I’m going stir-crazy. Felix sent me a video of practice today. Reed’s replacement is a disaster. The power play is falling apart.”

“The team will survive a week without you,” I said, though I knew it was the wrong thing to say. To Elijah, the team wasn’t just a sport; it was his pack.

Being away from them while they were struggling was like an itch he couldn’t scratch.

He sighed, his shoulders dropping. “It’s not just the team. It’s the silence. Every time the house gets quiet, I start thinking about the hit. I start thinking about what would have happened if I hadn’t moved my head at the last second.”

My heart gave a sharp, sympathetic tug. I reached out, my fingers brushing against the edge of his brace. “You did move, though. You’re here.”

“I know,” he whispered, his gaze dropping to mine. The bravado was gone, replaced by a raw vulnerability he only ever showed me. “But being ‘here’ feels like being trapped. I’m used to being the one moving, the one protecting. Now I’m just… a guy in a plastic collar.”

“You’re not just a guy,” I said firmly.

I stepped closer, invading his personal space until our chests were nearly touching. I could feel the heat radiating off him, the scent of pine and something uniquely Elijah filling my senses.

“You’re the person who keeps this family together. And right now, the best way you can protect us is by getting better. If you rush this and get hurt again, that’s when we’re really in trouble.”

He looked at me for a long moment, the intensity of his stare making my pulse climb. Then, slowly, he reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered there warm against my skin.

“You’re getting better at this,” he murmured.

“At what?”

“Giving the Alpha speeches. Ethan would be proud.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to hide the flush creeping up my neck. “Shut up. I’m just being practical.”

“No,” he said, his voice dropping an octave. “You’re being bossy. And for some reason, I’m actually listening to you. It’s a very

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Chapter 212

confusing time for me.”

3

“Good. Stay confused. It keeps you out of trouble.”

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I moved to lead him back toward the house, but he didn’t move. He kept his hand on the back of my neck, his thumb stroking the sensitive skin just below my ear. The air in the garage suddenly felt very thin.

“Claire,” he said, his voice thick with a sudden, heavy gravity.

“Elijah, don’t,” I whispered, even though every cell in my body wanted him to do exactly what he was thinking. “We’re supposed to be ‘healing first,’ remember? Those were my rules.”

“Rules were made to be broken,” he said, leaning down.

He didn’t kiss me. Not on the mouth. He pressed his forehead against mine, his breath hitching. “Just… stay here for a minute. Stop being the nurse and just be Claire.”

I closed my eyes, leaning into him. For a few minutes, the weight of the secret, the threat of the Reeds, and the fragility of my own heart didn’t matter.

There was just the steady rhythm of his breathing and the way his wolf hummed in response to mine-a low, vibrating frequency of safety.

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