His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 57

**Chapter 57**

**Claire’s POV**

My heart raced, pounding violently against my ribcage like a wild drum, each beat echoing the rising tide of panic that surged within me. I bent down hastily, my fingers fumbling as I tried to retrieve the phone that had slipped from my grasp, my hands shaking uncontrollably—a physical manifestation of the storm of emotions swirling in my mind. I barely registered that I was whispering her name, almost as if uttering it aloud could somehow summon her back to me.

Naomi.

In that moment, as dread settled over me like a heavy fog, my thoughts instinctively turned to Elijah. He was the one person I could trust without hesitation; he was strong, resourceful, and always seemed to have the right answers, even when his infuriating demeanor tested my patience. If something terrible had happened to Naomi, I needed Elijah by my side, now more than ever.

Without a moment’s pause, I sprinted down the long hallway toward his room, knocking urgently on the door, my heart racing with every knock. Silence enveloped me in response. I knocked again, this time with more force, but still, there was no answer. My heart sank as I turned the handle and pushed the door open, a sense of dread creeping over me.

The room was empty.

The bed lay unmade, the dim light casting shadows that seemed to mock my growing anxiety, and his jacket was conspicuously absent from its usual spot. I stepped inside, calling out softly, “Elijah?”

Only silence answered me, amplifying my unease.

He was nowhere to be found.

Backing out of the room, I hurried to Ethan’s office, my mind racing with possibilities. Perhaps Elijah was with Ethan. Maybe Ethan had sent him on some errand that intertwined with my worries, and all of this chaos was somehow connected. I reached the office door and knocked once before swinging it open, my breath hitching in anticipation.

It was also empty.

The chair was pushed back slightly, as if Ethan had just risen from it, and papers were scattered across his desk, a chaotic testament to whatever had occupied his time. My throat felt parched as I whispered, “Where is everybody?”

My next thought was of my mother.

She would know what to do.

I found her in the sitting room, perched on the couch with her tablet in hand. The moment she looked up and saw my face, her expression morphed from casual interest to immediate concern, the urgency in her eyes mirroring my own.

“Claire, what happened?” she asked, setting the tablet aside with a swift motion that spoke volumes.

I approached her, my throat constricting as I struggled to articulate my fear. Instead, I handed her the phone, my hands still shaking, the weight of the moment pressing heavily on me.

Her brow furrowed as she took it, her eyes widening with alarm as she examined the image on the screen. “What is this?”

“I don’t know,” I replied, my voice quivering with fear. “It just came in. It’s Naomi’s necklace, Mom. I’m certain of it. And look at the message.”

Her fingers tightened around the phone, a flicker of dread crossing her face as she read the words. “Where did this come from?”

“I don’t know,” I repeated, the uncertainty gnawing at my insides. “It was from an unknown number. I have no idea what to do. I can’t reach her, and her house is empty. No one knows where she is.”

In an instant, she stood up, her calm demeanor fracturing like glass. “We need to inform Ethan. Right now.”

“I already checked,” I said, frustration creeping into my voice. “He’s not home. Neither is Elijah. They might have gone somewhere together.”

“Then we wait,” she asserted, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Until your stepfather returns. He’ll know how to handle this.”

“I can’t wait,” I blurted out before I could think better of it. “Mom, that message—what if she’s hurt? What if whoever sent it has her?”

“Claire, I understand you’re scared,” she said, gripping my shoulders firmly, her eyes searching mine with an intensity that made my heart race, “but we don’t know who sent that message. It could be a trap. You can’t just rush out into the unknown.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but just then, the phone buzzed violently in her hand. We both glanced down at the screen, our hearts racing in sync, a shared dread coursing between us.

Another message.

This time, words accompanied the image.

*Come to Black Hollow Creek. Alone.*

My heart plummeted into the depths of my stomach, a cold wave of fear washing over me.

“Mom—”

“No,” she interjected sharply, her voice firm. “You are not going anywhere. We will wait for Ethan.”

I nodded slowly, but inside, my wolf was restless, pacing and growling, urging me to take action. Every fiber of my being screamed that Naomi was in peril, and I couldn’t just sit back and wait.

“I’m just going to my room,” I said softly, taking the phone back from her hand, a sense of urgency propelling me forward, my resolve hardening.

“Claire, I mean it—”

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