His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 73

**Chapter 73**

**Claire’s POV**

Elijah stood there, a silent sentinel, withholding any words that might slip past his lips, his tension palpable. I could almost feel the latent fury of his wolf simmering just beneath the surface, ready to burst forth at any moment. The air around us was thick with an unsettling blend of sorrow and tension, as if the world had receded into the background, leaving only the two of us trapped in this moment. The paramedics and the crowd that had once swarmed us had faded into mere shadows, remnants of the chaos that had just unfolded.

I leaned against the rough bark of a nearby tree, my mind swirling in a tempest of confusion and anxiety, completely oblivious to the silent storm brewing within Elijah. Ethan, ever the vigilant observer, was scanning the scene with a discerning eye, his gaze darting between the thug sprawled on the ground and the charged atmosphere that enveloped us. I was grateful for his silence; the last thing I needed was more words weighing down my already heavy heart.

With a subtle nod, Ethan gestured for the guards to escort us away from this chaotic scene, directing them toward the police officers he had arrived with. My heart raced, fueled by a potent mix of anger and a gnawing sense of dread. I had sensed this confrontation looming, and I was beyond weary of Naomi and her cryptic motives.

She owed me a mountain of explanations, but in that moment, all I could think about was reaching out to Elijah, to soothe him amidst this turmoil. His earlier words echoed ominously in my mind—who were these people he feared? Why had he chosen to keep that vital information to himself until now?

The driver’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. “We’ve arrived,” he announced, pulling me back to reality as we pulled up to the pack house. I glanced up, taking in the familiar structure that now felt more like a prison than a home. A heavy sigh escaped my lips, the weight of my emotions pressing down on me. How much longer could I endure this suffocating existence without losing my grip on sanity?

As I opened the car door, a large hand extended toward me, and I followed the arm to find Elijah standing there. His face was a mask of fury, yet in his eyes, I caught a flicker of something softer, a brief glimpse of the warmth that once radiated between us. He helped me out of the vehicle, guiding me into the house with a determined stride, not stopping until we reached a door I had never encountered before. A frown creased my forehead as he pushed it open, his expression still tight and unreadable.

“Elijah, what—” I began, but before I could finish, he slammed the door behind us, pinning me against it with an intensity that took my breath away. His eyes flashed with a dangerous mix of gold and blue, the power of his wolf palpable in the air. My words caught in my throat, and within my mind, my wolf howled, a chaotic blend of fear and desire flooding through me. The heat between us was undeniable, drawing me closer to him, but then he spoke, and the connection shattered.

“Claire, did you and Naomi plan to set me up?”

My mouth fell open in disbelief, shock coursing through me as I grappled with the weight of his accusation. “What?” I managed to stammer, my mind racing to comprehend the implications.

He grunted, visibly wrestling with his emotions, his eyes burning with suspicion. “You were sent here, weren’t you?” His voice was laced with doubt. “You wormed your way into my life, became a distraction, and suddenly, I find myself facing old enemies? Do you think I’m an idiot?”

A fiery sensation ignited in my eyes at his words, but my throat constricted, rendering me speechless. I searched his gaze for the Elijah I had come to know over the past month—the one who was patient and observant, who noticed when I skipped meals, who never hurled insults or accusations. The Elijah I had started to care for, maybe even love.

But in his place, I found only ice, the same coldness that had repelled me the moment I first laid eyes on him in this house.

“You think I orchestrated all of this?” I whispered, my voice trembling with hurt.

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