His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 56

**TITLE: Betrayal Births**

**Chapter 56**

**Claire’s POV**

As Monday broke, it felt as if the world had conspired to thrust me into a whirlwind of turmoil.

The sun’s rays pierced through my curtains, harsh and unforgiving, as if they were determined to obliterate any remnants of the night that had just passed. I stood in front of the mirror, my fingers running through my hair in a mechanical rhythm, almost as if I believed the simple act could somehow distract me from the tempest of emotions raging within.

Every time I dared to close my eyes, Elijah’s touch seemed to linger on my skin, the memory of our shared breaths echoing in my mind, the intensity of his gaze haunting me like a specter. The moment when the sound of his footsteps on the stairs shattered our fragile connection replayed in my head, a tormenting reminder of everything that had changed.

Since that night, silence had enveloped us like a thick, oppressive fog. Not a single word had been exchanged since he left the kitchen, leaving me frozen in a state of confusion, grappling with the reality of what had unfolded. When I finally retreated to my room, sleep eluded me entirely, my thoughts spiraling endlessly, fixating on one agonizing question:

What now?

As dawn approached, I resolved to bury those thoughts deep within me, convincing myself that pretending nothing had happened was the wisest course of action, even as my heart clung stubbornly to the truth.

Descending the stairs, I found Elijah waiting by the car, his expression inscrutable. He appeared calm, yet there was an emotional distance in his demeanor that felt like an impenetrable wall. It was as if the events of the previous night had been wiped from existence, leaving nothing but a void in its place.

The drive to school unfolded in a heavy silence, the kind that felt suffocating.

No music played, and I remained mute, the only sounds being the rhythmic hum of the engine and the soft rustle of the wind slipping through the half-open window.

When he finally stopped in front of the school, I hesitated, half-hoping he might say something—anything. A simple goodbye, perhaps, or a quiet “see you later.”

But the silence persisted.

He kept his gaze fixed on the steering wheel, his voice flat as he stated, “We’re here.”

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat, but no words escaped my lips. I reached for the door handle and stepped out into the bustling chaos of the school grounds.

“Thanks for the ride,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

He offered a brief nod, still refusing to meet my eyes.

I lingered for a moment, foolishly hoping he would call out my name or glance my way, but he remained silent. Defeated, I turned and walked away, my heart heavy with unspoken words.

Inside the school, the noise enveloped me like a tidal wave. Laughter echoed, voices clashed, and the sharp sound of lockers slamming shut filled the air. I felt like a ghost, out of place and unseen. My eyes instinctively searched for Naomi, the one person who always managed to find me in a crowd.

But she was nowhere to be found. I had anticipated her presence, especially since she hadn’t responded to my messages yesterday, but now….

I made my way to our usual spot by the windows near the staircase, but it was empty. I waited, clinging to the hope that perhaps she was just running late. When the bell rang, I reluctantly headed to class, still expecting her to walk in at any moment.

But she didn’t.

As the first period dragged on, a knot of worry began to form in my stomach. Naomi never missed class without informing me. I tried to concentrate on the lesson, but my thoughts kept straying to her absence.

When the teacher called my name to answer a question, I was lost in my own world, completely oblivious to what he had asked. A few students chuckled quietly, and I muttered an apology, feeling heat rise to my cheeks as I stared down at my notebook, tapping my pen against the paper in a futile attempt to ground myself.

At lunch, I began to ask around, my voice laced with concern.

“Have you seen Naomi today?” I inquired of one of her classmates.

They shrugged, their expression indifferent. “Didn’t see her this morning.”

I approached another student, hoping for a different response. Same answer.

By the end of the day, no one had any information about her whereabouts. Not even the teachers. They merely stated that she hadn’t reported being sick, yet she hadn’t shown up either.

The worry morphed into a tightness in my chest, a gnawing anxiety that made my wolf restless beneath my skin, as if it sensed something ominous lurking just out of reach.

When school finally ended, Elijah was once again waiting by the car.

I considered asking him for help in finding her, but the words caught in my throat. How could I explain the growing fear that had settled in my heart? Naomi had been acting strangely lately, and if something had gone awry, I had no idea where to begin searching.

The ride home was once again steeped in silence.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify