His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 4

**Chapter 4**

**Claire’s POV**

Ever since Elijah stepped foot into that classroom, a whirlwind of wild and reckless thoughts had been clawing at the edges of my consciousness, refusing to let go.

There was something about the way he moved, the way the very air seemed to bend toward him that was utterly captivating. Dreamy? That didn’t even begin to capture it. Dangerous might be a better fit, but even that felt inadequate. Yet, he was definitely not someone I should be thinking about.

I quickly shoved those ridiculous images aside, reminding myself that he was not just some ordinary boy. He was *the* boy—the Alpha’s son, my stepbrother.

And that was a detail I had chosen not to share with Naomi. She could cling to her crush, but I was determined to keep my distance. There was no way I was getting anywhere near him.

When our teacher finally strolled into the room, a wave of silence washed over us like a cold shower. She stood tall, her glasses glinting under the fluorescent lights, and her expression was one that suggested she could chew up excuses and spit them out before the first period even ended.

Her piercing gaze swept across the classroom and landed squarely on me. “New student. Stand up. Introduce yourself,” she commanded, her voice firm and unyielding.

With a gulp, I pushed myself to my feet. My knees trembled slightly, but I managed to keep my voice steady. “Um, hi. I’m Claire. I just transferred here yesterday.”

The silence that followed was suffocating.

From the front row, a few giggles erupted, and I caught a whisper of “metal mouth” that sent laughter rippling through the room like a wave.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I instinctively glanced at Elijah, desperate for… I wasn’t even sure what. A nod, a flicker of acknowledgment, anything that would connect us in this moment.

For a fleeting second, I even entertained the thought that perhaps he hadn’t yet realized who I was. Maybe he hadn’t made the connection between the girl who had just moved into his house and the one standing awkwardly in front of the class.

But no. His gaze was like ice, flat and unfeeling. It was as if I didn’t exist at all.

Fine then. If he wanted to treat me like a ghost, I could certainly reciprocate.

I sank back into my seat, my jaw clenched in determination, silently vowing to myself that I would have nothing to do with him. Ever.

The classes seemed to blur together in a haze of monotony. If being ignored by my peers wasn’t enough, the sight of our teacher sneaking glances at Elijah every few minutes made me want to gag.

Seriously? A grown woman blushing over a student? Over my stepbrother?

Naomi, ever the observant friend, scribbled a note and slid it into my hand: *Can you believe her?*

I quickly jotted back: *Disgusting.*

We stifled our laughter as the teacher turned back to the board, blissfully unaware of our exchange.

At some point, I excused myself to the restroom, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead like a swarm of angry bees. I splashed cold water on my face, hoping to wash away the heaviness that pressed down on my chest. I missed Lily and June. I missed my old life, even the mundane hallways of my previous school. Here, I felt like the awkward new girl again, a stranger in a world that felt utterly foreign.

I pulled out my lip gloss, smoothing it over my chapped lips, then tugged at my skirt to ensure it sat just right. At the very least, I could look put-together, even if I didn’t feel it.

As I pushed the restroom door open, I stepped back into the bustling hallway—only to collide directly with someone.

A hard chest met me, broad shoulders blocking my path.

Elijah.

My breath caught in my throat, but I forced my expression to remain blank, indifferent. “Hi—uh—hello, I’m sorry,” I stammered, my heart racing.

His eyes flicked over me, cool and unreadable, as if I were simply a piece of furniture in his way.

Desperate to regain my composure, I attempted to introduce myself. “I’m Claire. I know we haven’t officially met yet, but I’m your…”

“Get out of my way.” His voice sliced through the air, sharp and dismissive, like a blade cutting through flesh. Without a second glance, he brushed past me, his shoulder colliding with mine as if I were nothing but a ghost.

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