His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 5

**Chapter 5**

**Claire’s POV**

As I pivoted on my heel, I spotted Elijah already leaning against his car, exuding an air of arrogance that suggested he owned not just the vehicle but the entire parking lot. His face bore an unmistakable expression of revulsion, as if my mere presence was a bitter pill he had to swallow.

“Get in,” he commanded, his voice flat and devoid of warmth, as he jerked his chin toward the passenger door.

I blinked in disbelief, taken aback by his audacity. “Excuse me?” I managed to reply, my tone laced with incredulity.

“Get. In.” His repetition was laced with an impatience that grated on my nerves.

The sheer arrogance radiating from him made my teeth clench. “No thanks. I’ll find my own way home,” I shot back defiantly.

For a fleeting moment, his eyes flickered, betraying a thought he seemed desperate to conceal—was it annoyance or perhaps amusement? I couldn’t tell, but it irked me.

“Trust me, I’d love that more than anything. But I’m following my father’s orders. So unless you want me to drag you…”

I spun on my heel, my resolve igniting. “Then drag me.”

The truth was, I had no destination in mind—only the urgent need to distance myself from him.

I could hear his heavy footsteps thundering behind me, and before I knew it, a firm hand encircled my arm, halting my escape.

A jolt of heat surged through me, igniting every nerve ending beneath my skin. Goosebumps erupted along my arms, and my chest tightened with an inexplicable reaction that left me breathless.

“Get into the car. Now.” His words were low, yet they carried an undeniable authority. The warmth of his breath brushed against my cheek, steady and unnerving. His gaze locked onto mine, scrutinizing my face before darting down, as if he were committing every detail to memory.

And despite every ounce of stubbornness in my being, I felt myself yielding.

I slid into the passenger seat, my heart racing like a wild animal trapped in a cage.

The drive home was nothing short of torment.

He maneuvered the car as if he were in a race against time, and the world outside morphed into a blur of greens and grays. The music blasted from the speakers, a cacophony that drowned out any possibility of conversation—though, truthfully, I had no desire to speak with him.

I pressed my forehead against the cool glass of the window, watching the scenery whip past in a dizzying dance. The rhythm of the music pulsed in my skull, yet beneath it all, I couldn’t shake the awareness of him. I noticed the way his hands gripped the steering wheel, the veins in his forearms standing out against his skin. The faint scent of cedar and musk wafted through the leather interior, mingling with the tension that crackled between us. His quiet intensity filled the space, making it feel smaller, more suffocating, even in silence.

I despised how acutely my body was attuned to his presence.

By the time we screeched to a halt in the driveway, my nerves were frayed and raw.

Mom and Alpha Ethan stood outside the grand mansion, side by side, their expressions expectant. Mom’s face lit up like a beacon when she spotted us.

“Finally,” Alpha Ethan greeted us, his voice warm and welcoming. “I’m glad you’re both here. Claire, I want to formally introduce you to my son… Elijah.”

As if I didn’t already know him.

Alpha Ethan continued, his gaze steady yet kind. “I want you two to look out for each other. Claire’s new here; she doesn’t know anyone yet. Elijah, I expect you to take special care of her.”

Elijah’s lips curled into the faintest semblance of a polite smile, but the cold flicker in his eyes told a different story. He had no intention of guiding me or holding my hand through this new chapter of my life.

Ethan clapped him on the shoulder, a gesture of camaraderie. “Good. Then it’s settled.”

Before I could exhale in relief, Mom chimed in, her voice quick and overly eager. “Actually, Ethan, I think there’s no need for two cars going back and forth every day. Since they attend the same school, Claire can just ride with Elijah.”

Elijah’s low growl rumbled from deep within him, sharp enough to make my skin prickle with unease.

But Ethan’s firm look silenced him. “You’ll get along. Both of you.”

I swallowed hard, the simplicity of his words feeling like a cruel illusion. As if forcing two jagged pieces together wouldn’t cause pain.

The grief, humiliation, and loneliness I had buried within me surged forth, igniting a flame of anger. The ache of feeling weak and unwanted boiled over.

Before I could rein in my emotions, my hand moved on instinct.

Smack!

The sound echoed through the room, sharp and resounding.

His head turned slightly from the force, a red mark blooming across his cheek.

My chest heaved with the weight of my actions. My hand stung, but this time, it wasn’t weakness I felt—it was righteous fury.

Yet, that feeling was fleeting.

As the sting faded from my palm, a wave of regret washed over me. What had I done? I couldn’t bear the thought of him insulting my mother and me, but I hadn’t thought—I had simply reacted.

Fear twisted in my stomach. What if he retaliated?

Instead, Elijah moved slowly, deliberately. He approached me, his eyes dark and unreadable, every step amplifying the tension in the air.

He slammed the door shut behind him, the sound making me flinch. Then, in one swift motion, he caught my wrist, his grip firm, and pinned me against the wall.

His face loomed close, his voice a low growl that seeped into my skin, slicing through my defenses word by word.

“You just proved you came from a low background. You’re nothing more than a leech trying to feed. Do that again, and I’ll make it hurt where you least expect.”

His breath was hot against my cheek, and my heart raced so violently I thought it might shatter.

And in that moment, for the first time since our paths had crossed, I realized—with a chilling clarity—I might actually be in danger.