His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 29

**Betrayal Births**
by Joseph King

**Chapter 29**

**Claire’s POV**

I didn’t pause for a single breath.

The cafeteria floor was a chaotic mess of my books, pages fluttering like lost birds, and Naomi’s frantic calls echoed behind me, but I was beyond caring. I pushed through the heavy hall doors and burst into the crisp air outside, my chest aflame, my vision blurring as panic surged within me.

I ran with a desperate urgency, my lungs screaming for mercy, my legs threatening to buckle beneath me. Finally, I collapsed against the rough brick wall outside the gymnasium, hidden from prying eyes, seeking solace in the shadows.

The silence enveloped me, but rather than offering comfort, it amplified the haunting echoes of Elijah’s words.

“You don’t belong here. You will never fit in with us.”

“You’re nothing but a gold digger.”

Those words sliced through my mind with the same sharpness as the day my father walked out. I could still hear his voice, smooth and convincing, “I can’t wait for you to finish college. I know you will be a brilliant engineer. Now hurry home; I’m going out to get your surprise package.”

Oh, how I loathed that day! I had jumped for joy, my heart racing in anticipation of a dream finally coming true. For ages, I had begged him for a laptop, and at long last, after seeing my semester results, he was finally going to get it for me. I envisioned running home, bursting with excitement, to show Mom the surprise. All I wanted was for us to be a happy family again.

But in the end, his promises were as empty as the space he left behind.

A tightness gripped my throat, and tears threatened to spill over, begging for release.

I shouldn’t have made him promise anything.

Now, Elijah’s scornful voice joined the chorus of broken promises, each word a fresh crack splitting my heart wider.

I pulled my knees to my chest, burying my face in them. My wolf stirred within me, restless yet weak, longing to fight but unable to stand against the tempest tearing me apart.

Maybe I was weary of the constant struggle too.

Perhaps it would be simpler if my heart just surrendered, if the endless sprinting and the searing pain simply… ceased.

The thought settled heavily in my mind, more profound than I anticipated. For a fleeting, terrifying moment, I didn’t resist it. I truly was exhausted.

But then, a sharp pain seized my chest.

I gasped, pressing my hand against the ache, my fingers instinctively clawing at the fabric of my shirt as the pain intensified, cruel and unyielding. My heartbeat fluttered erratically like a wounded bird, racing too fast, then fading into a whisper.

It was happening again.

“No…” I murmured, shaking my head as if I could wish it away. “Not now.”

The world around me tilted dangerously. The edges of my vision darkened, bleeding into shadows, and I slumped sideways onto the cool grass, half-conscious, desperately clinging to the fragile thread that tethered me to reality.

In that hazy void, a small part of me whispered a prayer: let me go, let it stop, I can’t endure this anymore.

“Claire!”

The voice pierced through the fog, distant at first, then closer, sharper, breaking through my haze.

Hands shook me, and through my blurred vision, I could make out Naomi’s terrified face hovering above me. Her hair was a wild mess, and her eyes were wide with panic, reflecting the urgency of the moment.

“Oh my God—help! Somebody help!” she screamed, her voice splintering into echoes that reverberated around us.

I felt her hands fumbling through my pockets, frantic and desperate, searching for the pills I wasn’t even sure I had.

She found my phone, and within moments, she was dialing someone, her breath quickening as she half-begged, half-prayed to the person on the other end of the line.

Footsteps surrounded me, a cacophony of hurried sounds, and my heart raced chaotically, the rhythm shifting every half-second, as if it were preparing to give up on me.

Naomi grasped my hands, squeezing tightly, her voice trembling with fear. “Please, Claire… why don’t you have your pills? You can’t leave me like this. Help is coming… please…”

Her voice faltered, and through the haze, I could see tears shimmering in her eyes, the emotion threatening to break through my own defenses.

I felt warm tears slip from my eyes onto her palm. Despite the overwhelming exhaustion, I wasn’t sure if I truly wanted to leave this world behind.

I turned away, swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat, the weight of her concern pressing down on me.

Her hand caught mine, desperate and pleading. “Please, tell me what happened. Why? What pushed you so far?”

I squeezed my eyes shut, Elijah’s smirk flashing in my mind, Jessica’s lips brushing against his cheek, the laughter, the whispers, and the sudden realization that I was just as foolish as I had always hated.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

The silence stretched between us like a chasm, and then she pulled me into her arms, holding me tightly as if she could shield me from everything that threatened to overwhelm me. I allowed her to hold me, but the words remained locked deep within my throat.

Much later, when she finally left me to rest, I heard the faint buzz of my phone vibrating on the nightstand.

I almost ignored it, but curiosity gnawed at me.

The screen lit up with a name I hadn’t seen in weeks.

Lily’s name flashed at the top of the screen.

Then another call came in. It was June. Moments later, they both invited me to a video chat, and I could easily picture them sitting together, anxiously staring at their phones, waiting for me to respond.

June’s earlier comment echoed in my mind, but I quickly shoved it away.

I couldn’t even blame her for thinking that way. They were still my best friends, and I would be damned if I allowed such a comment to sever our bonds.

For a long moment, I stared at their names, guilt twisting within me, mingling with a sense of relief.

Finally, I pressed accept.

“Claire?”

The voice on the other end cracked with emotion, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I smiled through my tears.

“Yeah,” I whispered softly. “It’s me.”