His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 31

**Chapter 31**

**Claire’s POV**

Dr. Adrian’s arrival was like a breath of fresh air in a room filled with stale expectations. Unlike the specialists I had encountered in the past—those who rushed through their assessments with a clinical detachment—he carried an aura of calm that wrapped around me like a warm blanket. The white coat he wore didn’t seem to constrict him; rather, it appeared to signify his dedication to understanding, rather than just diagnosing.

He didn’t bombard me with a barrage of charts and graphs as most doctors did. Instead, he settled into the chair across from me, his tablet resting lightly in his hands, and spoke in a voice that was both quiet and steady. “Let’s begin with something straightforward, Claire. How many times have you fainted in the last two weeks?”

I shifted uncomfortably against the pillows, feeling the weight of his gaze. “Three,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Three,” he echoed, nodding thoughtfully while tapping away at the screen. “And prior to that? In the past couple of months?”

I frowned, struggling to piece together the scattered memories. Everything felt like a hazy dream, a chaotic mix of collapsing and waking up in sterile, fluorescent-lit rooms. Still, fragments of those moments lingered in my mind. “Maybe…five or six? I don’t always keep a record. I know I should, but—”

“You’re a teenager,” he interjected gently, his tone laced with understanding. “You shouldn’t have to tally how often your body lets you down. That’s my responsibility now.”

His words were devoid of pity; instead, they held a calm assurance that disarmed my defenses. “Okay,” I murmured, feeling a flicker of relief.

“Great. Now, can you tell me when you typically feel faint? Have you noticed any patterns in your daily life?”

I hesitated, my fingers nervously twisting the edge of the blanket. “It’s usually when I’m under…emotional stress.”

“Emotional stress,” he repeated, his voice thoughtful as he absorbed my words.

“Yeah.” I fought to keep bitterness from creeping into my tone. “Which basically means all the time lately. My mom just got remarried, we had to move, I was thrown into a new pack, my new stepbrother is a total pain, and half the time I can’t even breathe without feeling like my chest might explode.”

My voice cracked more than I intended, revealing the rawness of my emotions.

Dr. Adrian maintained eye contact, leaning forward slightly, his notepad forgotten in his lap, as if he were genuinely engaged in my struggle. “That sounds overwhelming, Claire. Honestly, it’s too much for someone your age.”

My throat tightened painfully. “Tell me about it,” I replied, the weight of my situation pressing down on me.

He paused, giving me a moment to collect myself before asking his next question. “Do you have friends here? People you can rely on for emotional support besides your mom?”

The question caught me off guard. I hadn’t anticipated that.

“I mean…” I shifted again, searching for the right words. “I have Lily and June, but they’re back home. We video chat sometimes.”

He nodded, encouraging me to continue. “And here?”

“There’s Naomi.” I said her name softly, relief flooding through me. “She’s…she’s the only one who hasn’t treated me like I’m contagious. She’s loud and nosy, but in a good way. She makes me feel…safe.”

Dr. Adrian’s expression softened, a hint of approval in his eyes. “Good. You need that sense of safety.”

I nearly revealed my complicated feelings about Elijah, the word almost slipping from my lips. But how could I? Elijah wasn’t a friend; he was a tempest, a sharp blade with a jagged edge, a wolf whose pull I couldn’t resist, yet I feared what that meant for me.

Still, images of him crashed into my mind—his arm catching me in the alley, the heat of his mouth against mine, the cruel smirk he’d flashed in the cafeteria just hours later.

He was anything but safe, yet… sometimes, when he wasn’t busy tearing me apart, there was something else within him that stirred my wolf instead of making her cower.

But I clamped down on those thoughts. I wasn’t about to expose that chaotic mess to a stranger.

So, I forced a smile, albeit a weak one. “Elijah’s my stepbrother, but he’s not my friend. He’s…an asshole. But he’s polite. Helpful. In his own way.”

I felt foolish trying to paint him in a better light.

Adrian tilted his head, his gaze probing as if he wanted to delve deeper, but he held back. Instead, he reached for his stethoscope. “Would you mind if I listened to your heartbeat?”

I nodded, though a strange flutter began in my chest.

As he leaned closer, the cold metal brushed against my collarbone, and I inhaled sharply. His cologne was faint yet refreshing, reminiscent of pine and mint.

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