His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 224

12:11 Sun, Jan 11 Gj

Chapter 224

Chapter 224

Claire’s POV

The iron gates of the high school had always felt like an entrance to a battlefield, but today, they felt like the mouth of a lion.

Elijah’s black truck rumbled as we pulled into the senior parking lot, the sound cutting through the morning air like a growl.

I could feel the eyes on us before we even came to a complete stop.

Faces pressed against the glass of the cafeteria windows; students paused mid–stride on the sidewalk.

The news of the Trial hadn’t just leaked–it had flooded the social hierarchy of the pack and the town alike.

“Stay close,” Elijah said, his voice dropping into that low, protective resonance that made my wolf stir.

He didn’t get out immediately. He sat there for a second, his hands gripping the steering wheel, his knuckles white.

He was wearing a tight black t–shirt that didn’t quite hide the bandages beneath, and the sharp, jagged lines of his jaw were set in a mask of cold indifference.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I promised, reaching over to place my hand on his.

My heart was steady–72 bpm. It was a miracle I still wasn’t used to. No fluttering, no skipped beats, just the solid, heavy rhythm of a healthy wolf.

Elijah turned to me, his golden–rimmed eyes searching mine.

He leaned over, pressing his forehead against mine for a long, quiet moment. “If anyone says a word to you–if they even look at you the wrong way–you tell me. I don’t care if we’re in the middle of Calculus.”

“I can handle the whispers, Elijah. I’ve had a ‘broken heart‘ my whole life. I’m used to being the girl everyone talks about.”

“Not anymore,” he muttered. “Now you’re the girl they’re afraid of.”

He hopped out and circled the truck, opening my door before I could reach for the handle.

He kept his arm draped over my shoulders, his thumb hooked into the collar of my hoodie, physically marking me as his.

The walk to the main entrance was a gauntlet. The silence was eerie.

Usually, the morning air was filled with the sounds of slamming lockers and shouted greetings, but as we crossed the threshold, the noise died out.

Standing by the trophy case was Felix, flanked by two of the pack’s strongest sentinels, Jax and Miller.

They weren’t in school clothes; they were in tactical gear, their eyes/scanning the hallway with predatory precision. Ethan hadn’t been joking about the security.

“All clear?” Elijah asked as we reached them.

“The Reeds are a no–show,” Felix reported, though he didn’t look relieved. “But the locker room is a mess. Some of the guys from the North territory are making noise about the ‘purity‘ of the trial. They think the Northman was paid to dive.”

Elijah’s eyes darkened. “Let them think that, It’ll make it a lot more fun when I put them into the boards.”

“Elijah, no fighting,” I whispered, squeezing his waist.

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12:11 Sun, Jan 11

Chapter 224

“Only on the ice, Claire. Only on the ice.”

We made it to my first–period locker, but as I reached for the dial, a group of girls from the cheer squad–all daughters of prominent pack families–approached.

Their leader, Sarah, had been vying for Elijah’s attention since forever, but had somehow always been in the background. Her face was a mask of calculated pity.

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“Claire,” Sarah said, her voice dripping with fake concern. “We heard about the… emergency. It’s so brave of you to show up today. Especially after the Council had to get involved in your ‘family‘ business.”

The word family was spat out like a slur.

Elijah stepped forward, his shadow falling over Sarah and her friends. He didn’t roar; he didn’t shift. He just stared at her with a look so cold it seemed to drop the temperature in the hallway.

“The Council didn’t get involved in our business, Sarah,” Elijah said, his voice a low, vibrating threat. “They sanctioned our bond. Which means that as of five minutes ago, you’re speaking to the future Alpha’s mate. If I hear that tone again, I’ll make sure your

father is the first one called to the Pack House to explain your lack of respect.”

Sarah’s face went pale. She looked at me, then at the heavy, possessive grip Elijah had on my shoulder, and she quickly looked at the floor. “I… I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Get to class,” Elijah commanded.

They scurried away, their heels clicking frantically against the linoleum.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I said, though a part of me felt a fierce sense of satisfaction.

“Yes, I did. If we let one slide, they all think they can take a shot.”

The day continued in a blur of tension. In every class, the seat next to me was occupied by a sentinel or Felix.

During lunch, Elijah didn’t even let me go to the cafeteria; he had Felix bring food to the library, where we sat in a secluded corner behind the stacks of old history books.

But the real test came after the final bell.

Hockey practice.

Elijah had to go. Ethan was right–if the Captain didn’t show up to lead the team, it would be seen as a sign of weakness.

I sat in the bleachers of the cold rink, flanked by Jax and Miller, watching as the players filtered onto the ice.

The tension was thick enough to choke on. The team was split.

The local boys, who grew up with Elijah, were banging their sticks against the ice in a show of support.

But the recruits from the North and the border territories–the ones who had ties to the Reed lineage–were huddled at the other end of the bench, their expressions dark.

Coach blew his whistle, the sound echoing sharply off the glass. Hale! Center ice!”

Elijah skated out, his movements fluid and powerful despite the bandages.

He looked up at me in the stands for a split second, a silent communication passing between us, before he turned to face his

team.

“I know what you’ve heard,” Elijah shouted, his voice carrying over the hum of the cooling units. “I know some of you think

12:11 Sun, Jan 11

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