His new stepsister. His biggest threat. 🚫

Chapter 001

Claire’s POV

What’s the worst thing that can happen to a person?

Being born with freckles and braces? Sure. That’s embarrassing.

Being bullied for years at school because you don’t fit in? Absolutely miserable.

But worse?

Having your mom barge into your room on a Monday morning and say, “Pack your bags. We’re leaving.”

Yes. Leaving.

I blinked at her from my desk where my history notes were spread out as I rushed through my homework. 

 “I’m sorry, what?”

She didn’t soften, not even a little. “We’re moving tonight. The council has decided. Since your father is gone, the law requires me to remarry. Fortunately the Alpha of Silvercrest has… stepped forward.”

“Stepped forward”?. Like she was some prize cow at an auction.

I laughed, but it came out sharp and broken. “You can’t be serious.”

Her jaw tightened. “I am. And you’ll respect this decision.”

My chest burned. “Dad’s barely been gone a year. And now you’re just…what…throwing yourself at some Alpha? Like his replacement?”

Her eyes flashed. It was not anger or guilt. Which was somehow worse.

“There are things you don’t understand, Claire. Your father left behind debts. More than I can pay. If I don’t do this, we lose everything. Our home, our place in this pack. Do you want that?”

The words hit harder than a punch. Dad had been many things, but reckless with money? I never imagined.

Tears stung my eyes, but I forced them back, not wanting to ruin the perfect memories I had of him. “So, what? He gets to die, and we get to pay the price? This isn’t fair.”

“It’s survival,” she said, her voice softer now. “It’s the only way.”

I shoved my chair back so hard it nearly toppled. “No. It’s the coward’s way.”

And before she could say more, I bolted into the bathroom and locked the door.

The mirror showed me a face that barely looked like mine. Pale, freckled, eyes red from holding back tears. My glasses slid down my nose. My braces glinted like a neon sign screaming loser.

And underneath all of that? There was weakness. Always weakness.

I pressed a hand to my chest, where the familiar ache pulsed. My useless heart was still beating like it mattered. 

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia (ARVD)

The condition that’s haunted me since I was a kid makes my heart’s rhythm unstable, sending me into fainting spells without warning. While other kids were learning to run laps and shift early, I was stuck in hospitals, listening to doctors shake their heads. I still have no wolf. I’ve never shifted. My body has very little strength. Just a ticking reminder carved into my chest that I’ll always be behind everyone else.

Sometimes I wondered if fate just enjoyed playing jokes on me. Once, I begged my parents to let me take a tiny job at a café—nothing wild, just wiping tables and carrying trays. I lasted all of two days before collapsing behind the counter and waking up in a hospital bed with tubes in my arm like some tragic science experiment. Mom cried. Dad looked like someone had carved a hole straight through him. They spent what little money we had left on more tests, only to hear the same lecture again: she can’t handle anything strenuous, don’t push her.

Since then, I’ve basically been wrapped in bubble wrap, treated like I’m made of glass. Spoiler: glass still cracks. And me? I just keep proving them right.

All I had left was the hope that I could get into college, study computer engineering, and land a job that didn’t require me to run or lift or fight. Something safe, something where my brain mattered more than my body. It was the only dream I had, the only thing that made me feel like maybe…just maybe…I wasn’t completely useless.

I whispered to the empty bathroom, “If I wasn’t so useless, maybe Mom wouldn’t have to do this.”

But I was useless. And the guilt suffocated me more than the news itself.

I left the bathroom, forced myself into my uniform, and packed my bag with hands that wouldn’t stop shaking. Ready or not, I had to face school that same day.

By the time I walked through the gates, my two best friends noticed immediately.

“Whoa, Claire, did somebody die?” Lily blurted before realizing her mistake. Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my God, I didn’t mean…”

I shook my head. “It’s fine. But close enough.”

June linked her arm through mine as we walked into the hallway. “Okay, spill. What happened?”

I exhaled like the air itself hurt. “My mom’s getting remarried.”

Both of them froze mid-step.

“To who?” Lily demanded.

“Some Alpha.” The word tasted bitter. “Apparently pack law says she has to. And apparently Dad left behind a mountain of debt we can’t pay. So guess who gets to move and play happy family?”

June’s mouth fell open. “That’s insane. Claire, you can’t just let them…”

“I don’t have a choice.” My voice cracked, and I hated it.

“You always have a choice,” Lily shot back. “Run away. Stay with us. Anything is better than being stuck with some Alpha.”

For a second, the idea lit a fire in my chest. But it burned out quickly. Where would I go? I had no money. No wolf. And with my stupid heart, I couldn’t even run half a mile without collapsing.

I forced a shaky laugh. “Yeah, sure. Me, surviving on my own. That would last… what? Two hours?”

Neither of them laughed. They just looked at me the way people look at stray puppies. And that made me feel even worse.

“Don’t pity me,” I snapped, softer than I meant.

June squeezed my hand. “We don’t. We just… wish you didn’t have to go through this.”

“Yeah, well.” I shrugged, even though my chest felt like it was caving in. “Story of my life.”

Everything that happened in school that day was a blur, my mind kept drifting to so many places, thoughts of what my life would be scared me. But I had to brace up for whatever was coming. 

Going home that afternoon felt like walking to my own execution.

Every step closer made my stomach twist tighter. I thought about turning around, hiding at Lily’s, but what would that fix?

The house looked the same from the outside. The same peeling paint, the same sagging porch. But the moment I stepped inside, the atmosphere felt… heavier.

I froze in the hallway. Voices drifted from the living room.

Mom’s nervous laugh.

And then a man’s voice, it was low but confident in a way that didn’t need to shout.

My pulse spiked. Who was it? Was the Alpha already here?.

I clutched the strap of my backpack so tightly my knuckles hurt.

“Claire?” Mom called. “Come in, sweetheart. There’s someone I want you to meet.”

My legs turned to lead, but they carried me forward anyway.

And then I saw him.

The Alpha.

I’d imagined some old, graying man with a cruel smile. Someone who’d sneer at me the second he saw my braces, my glasses, my freckles. Someone who’d look at me and see nothing but a burden.

But the man standing in our living room wasn’t that at all.

He was tall. Broad shoulders that filled the space. Dark hair, cut neatly but with a stubborn wave. His eyes lifted to mine—sharp, assessing me, but not in a cruel way. And his aura hit me like a wave: power, undeniable, but not suffocating.

My breath caught.

Wait this… was the Alpha?

Chapter 002

Claire’s POV

“Nice to finally meet you, Claire. I am Ethan”

His voice wasn’t what I expected. It was calm, so matured, I almost forgot my life was been ripped away.

I stood there in the doorway, frozen, my backpack slipping down my shoulder. He wasn’t trying to intimidate me. He wasn’t sneering. Instead, the Alpha—Ethan Daniels—smiled faintly, his gaze steady but not sharp enough to make look like a freak.

“Your mother has told me a lot about you,” he continued, his tone so even it almost comforted me. “I’m glad you’re here. I want you to know I’ll take care of you.”

“Take care of me”?

Hearing him say that crushed me from the inside out.

Because wasn’t that Dad’s job? Wasn’t that what he used to whisper when he kissed my forehead at night? Don’t worry, Claire-bear. I’ll take care of you.

Now this man, this stranger with power stitched into every move he made, was saying the same thing. Like he could just… step in and fill the empty space my father left.

I forced my expression into neutral, swallowing down the sting. Not rude…Mom would kill me for that, but definitely not friendly either.

“Thanks,” I muttered, shifting my weight.

His eyes lingered on me for a moment, like he was trying to read me, but then he only nodded. “I’ll let you get settled.”

He turned back to Mom, and I took my chance to escape.

It didn’t even look like my room anymore. Boxes everywhere, suitcases zipped, my posters stripped from the walls. Even my books…my one safe place…were already sealed away.

Mom.

She’d packed my entire life while I was at school, like she thought ripping off the Band-Aid would make it hurt less. Spoiler: it didn’t.

I sank onto the edge of my bed, staring at the bare walls, the empty shelves. My chest ached in that familiar, sharp way.

A voice floated down the hall. “Claire! We’re leaving!”

“Leaving”.. Just like that. I wasn’t even given the chance to have sleepless nights over my decision…

I turned to the mirror above my desk. My reflection blurred as little drops of tears slid down my cheeks. I swiped them away furiously, but more came.

And that was it. Goodbye to this room. Goodbye to my childhood. Goodbye to every book I’d read here, every late-night laugh with Lily and June over video calls, every memory that still smelled faintly of Dad.

And goodbye to the tiny slice of peace I’d finally carved for myself at school.

I pressed my palm to the glass, whispering, “Bye.” Then I forced myself to stand.

I dragged myself out of my room and down the creaky stairs, each step heavier than the last. But it wasn’t until I stepped outside that the truth really hit me.

Parked in front of our shabby little house was a fleet of cars that looked like they’d rolled straight out of a movie set. Sleek black SUVs. A gleaming sedan. Men in dark suits stood by the doors, stiff and alert, their eyes scanning everything like we were some kind of VIPs.

I froze on the porch, blinking. This… was for us?

Alpha Ethan stood near the first car, talking quietly to one of the men, but when he saw me, he smiled again. Not the smug type, not fake. Just… like he wanted me to feel safe.

And for one stupid, fleeting second, I thought—maybe he wasn’t so bad. He could’ve sent drivers, assistants, guards. But he came himself.

Not that it changed anything.

Mom touched my shoulder gently. “Come on, sweetheart.”

My chest squeezed. “Sweetheart”. That was Dad’s word too.

I slid into the backseat, hugging my backpack tight against my chest. The leather seats smelled expensive, but the air felt suffocating. I stared out the window as our little house faded into the distance, time slowing down, making the goodbye hurt more.

*******

The Silvercrest estate was nothing short of a palace.

Massive stone walls. Windows that glittered like mirrors. Gardens that stretched wider than my entire old neighborhood.

The marble floors were so polished I kept waiting for someone to yell at me for leaving footprints.

“This is your new home,” Alpha Ethan said as we walked.

Home. The word didn’t fit, not here.

He showed us around: the dining room big enough for a wedding, a library that made my chest ache with longing, a backyard that looked more like a private park.

When we reached the end of the tour, Ethan paused in the hallway. “One more thing, Claire. I have a son. He should be out with his friends right now, but when he gets back, I’ll officially introduce you. I think you’ll get along.”

A son? Mum never said anything about “A son” Now I am just supposed to get along?.

I turned to Mom, waiting for some kind of explanation, some hint about who this guy even was. She just gave me this quick smile and said he was a hockey player—and that she was sure I’d love him.

Love him? Really?

Her words twisted in my stomach like a bad joke. A star athlete son, probably dripping with arrogance, and me—the nerd with braces and a faulty heart? Yeah, sure. We’d be best friends.

I kept my mouth shut, just nodded once.

“This is yours, Claire.” Alpha Ethan said pointing to the door painted in pink.

I stepped inside. And froze.

It was like someone had read my mind. A fairytale room. Soft blue walls. Shelves lined with books. A wide bed covered in quilts that looked handmade. Even a desk with a brand-new laptop waiting.

It wasn’t just decorated—it was me in dreamland.

“Do you like it?” Alpha Ethan asked.

His words were plain, but the way he said them—like he actually meant it—made my throat tighten.

I nodded stiffly. “It’s fine.”

His eyes flickered, but he didn’t push. “I’ll let you rest.”

The second the door clicked shut, I flopped face-first onto the bed like my body had been waiting all day to collapse. The mattress hugged me too perfectly, which only made me feel more out of place. Like the bed belonged to some princess, and I’d just snuck in to nap without permission.

When I finally rolled onto my back, I noticed the bathroom door wide open, gleaming tiles winking at me, and the dresser drawers half-open, already stuffed with my clothes. My clothes. Folded. Organized. Waiting.

That’s when the thought hit me—how long had Mom been planning this? Weeks? Months? All those late nights at the kitchen table, whispering on the phone when she thought I was asleep… I’d convinced myself she was brainstorming some new business idea. Turns out, the business plan was my life.

A bitter little laugh crawled out of my chest.

On the bright side? The place was gorgeous. The kind of room I’d pinned to mood boards I never showed anyone. But there was no way in hell I’d let Mom or Alpha Ethan see me smile about it. I’d rather choke on my own braces than give them that satisfaction.

Later, I sat at the edge of the bed, tugged the curtains aside, and froze. Outside, the estate shimmered under strings of fairy lights, a massive pool glowing like a movie set. Music drifted up, soft and lazy, like the night itself didn’t care how wrecked I was.

And in the pool, someone moved. Smooth, powerful strokes cutting through the water. Broad shoulders catching the glow. Whoever it was, they swam like the world belonged to them. The kind of scene you only ever saw in magazine spreads.

I squinted, my breath catching. Was that… his son?

The thought sent a weird shiver through me, so I snapped the curtains shut.

Later that night there was a knock at my door.

Alpha Ethan stepped inside, hands in his pockets. He didn’t sit, he just leaned against the desk.

“I made some calls today,” he said casually. “I found doctors who specialize in heart conditions. They’re willing to look into yours, see if there’s anything new we can try.”

For a moment, my world tilted.

Doctors. Another chance. A chance at being normal.

Hope flared bright in my chest, so sharp it hurt. But then suspicion quickly doused it.

Nothing good ever came this easy. Nothing kind ever came without a cost.

I crossed my arms. “Why?”

His brows furrowed. “Why what?”

“Why are you doing this?” My voice came out sharper than I intended. “I’m only here because my mom agreed to marry you. I’m not your daughter. I’m not your responsibility.”

The words hung heavy in the air.

For a moment, Alpha Ethan just studied me, his eyes unreadable. Then, slowly, he nodded. “Fair enough. I’ll respect your wishes.”

He turned toward the door, his voice calm. “But just so you know, Claire…I don’t see you as a responsibility. I see you as family.”

The door clicked shut behind him.

And my chest… hurt.

Not the physical kind, but the ache of someone being too nice when you’re too used to disappointment.

I sat on the edge of the bed, whispering to myself, “Too nice. Too good. That never ends well.”

Not long after Ethan left, Mom slipped in, her smile hesitant but brighter than I’d seen in months. “So? Do you like it?”

I glanced around the fairytale room. “It’s… fine.”

“Fine?” Her brows knit. “Claire, it’s beautiful. Nothing like our little house. You’ll be comfortable here.”

I shook my head sharply. “I’m not interested, Mom. None of this feels real. It’s scary, and I don’t want to pretend like this is okay.”

Her smile faltered, disappointment flickering across her face. “Claire…” She reached for my hand but hesitated. “I just want you to try. He’s a good man. And I’m sorry—for not telling you sooner. For how sudden all of this feels. I didn’t want it to be this way. I thought I have other options but…..

I studied her face, the tired lines around her eyes, the way her voice cracked like she was holding something back. There was more. Something she wasn’t saying. But I didn’t press. Because deep down, I already understood.

I turned away, staring at the floor. “Good men don’t take another man’s place.”

Chapter 003

Claire’s POV

Morning came faster than I expected, considering the fact that I had a wonderful night rest.

“Wake up, Claire. It’s time for school.”

The words didn’t even register at first. I blinked groggily at Mom, who stood at my door with the brightest smile I’d seen on her face in… forever.

“School?” I croaked. “You can’t be serious. I literally just left mine yesterday.”

Her eyes twinkled. “The Alpha already made the arrangements. You’ll be starting today. You’ll be in the same school as his son.”

My stomach dropped. His son. My new stepbrother. Great.

But what stunned me more was Mom. She looked… radiant. Glowing. Like someone had flipped a switch inside her.

“You’re smiling like you just won the lottery,” I muttered, sitting up.

Her cheeks flushed. “I had a wonderful night. Ethan marked me.”

I gagged dramatically. “Ew. Mom. Gross. I do not want to hear about your… whatever that is.”

To my own surprise, a laugh tumbled out of me. A real one. The first since we’d stepped foot in this mansion.

She laughed too, swatting my arm lightly. “I’m serious. I’m happy, Claire. Happier than I’ve been in years.”

Her joy was so raw, so honest, that for a second, my defenses cracked. Maybe I was being too harsh. Maybe Ethan wasn’t trying to erase Dad—maybe he was just trying to make Mom smile again.

I sighed. “Okay. I’ll give him a chance. But just for you. And only as your husband. He’ll never be my dad.”

Her eyes softened. She leaned down, wrapping me in a hug that smelled faintly of her perfume. “Thank you, sweetheart. That’s all I ask.”

When she pulled away, I almost wished she hadn’t. Her warmth lingered in the empty air long after she left the room.

I pushed myself out of bed and headed straight for the bathroom. A quick shower woke me up, steam curling around the mirror until my reflection blurred. I brushed my teeth, smoothed my hair into a neat ponytail, and dabbed on lip gloss—just enough to feel put together without trying too hard

Downstairs, breakfast was already laid out like a five-star hotel spread—eggs, pastries, fruit, juices lined up in crystal glasses. Alpha Ethan sat at the head of the table like a king on his throne, every line of him screaming authority.

“Good morning, Claire,” he said evenly.

I forced a small smile. Not fake this time. “Morning.”

He nodded, like he knew that was the most he’d get out of me.

Mom had already handed me everything I needed: uniforms, notebooks, even a schedule. “Your stepbrother already left. You’ll meet him at school,” she said.

Perfect. Nothing like meeting your new “brother” in front of a bunch of strangers.

I finished my toast, grabbed my bag, and headed out—where a sleek white car and a driver in a crisp suit waited for me. My own car. My own driver.

This was not my life.

***

One look at the new school and I knew: I was already the odd one out.

The gates themselves looked more expensive than my entire old house. The campus sprawled like a college, not a high school. Perfectly trimmed lawns, fountains, glass windows that gleamed in the morning sun.

And the students? They wore designer shoes, polished nails, bags that probably cost more than our monthly rent used to.

Their eyes landed on me instantly.

Whispers trailed after me with every step, sharp little pinpricks against my back. Who’s she? The new girl? Doesn’t belong here. I caught flashes of it—eyes flicking to my glasses, to the metal on my teeth, mouths twisting like I was some exhibit they hadn’t ordered tickets for.

I didn’t even flinch. After years of being bullied, stares were background noise. I hugged my bag closer and kept walking.

“Hey.”

I stopped.

A girl with short curly hair and a bright smile stood in front of me. She was dressed like the others—polished, expensive—but her eyes were kind.

“I love your freckles,” she said. “They make you look unique.”

My throat tightened. People usually mocked my freckles, called them “dots,” “stains.” Never pretty.

I blinked at her. “Are you… sure? Most people just laugh at them.”

Without hesitation, she pulled a marker from her bag, uncapped it, and dotted little freckles across her own cheeks. “There. We’re the same now.”

I couldn’t help it—I laughed. A real, unguarded laugh.

“I’m Claire,” I said softly.

“Naomi,” she replied with a grin. “Nice to meet you, freckles twin.”

I told her the class I was supposed to be in, and her face lit up. “No way. Same class. Come on, I’ll take you.”

Relief spread through me like warmth. Maybe I wouldn’t have to sit alone.

But the moment we stepped inside the classroom, the spell broke.

A girl near the front gave me a once-over, her lips curling. “The new girl looks like she belongs in a thrift store, not here. Definitely unfit.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks, but before I could shrink into myself, Naomi stepped forward, her voice sharp. “At least she’s not ugly on the inside.”

Gasps scattered across the room. The mean girl’s mouth dropped open, but Naomi just grabbed my arm and tugged me toward the back. “Come on, freckles twin. Back row’s ours.”

I swallowed a lump in my throat as we sat down. Naomi didn’t even know me, and she was already defending me.

Maybe this place wouldn’t be hell after all.

Naomi leaned close, whispering names and giving me the dos and don'ts of the class when the door opened.

And the entire room shifted.

Conversations stopped. Chairs scraped. Girls sat up straighter, some biting their lips, others giggling. Boys straightened, offering quick nods or slaps on the back.

The energy in the room flipped, pulled tight like a bowstring.

Because he had walked in.

He is tall, confident. The kind of presence that didn’t just walk into a room—it owned it. Broad shoulders beneath a fitted jacket, hair damp like he’d just showered, eyes scanning the room with calm authority.

He didn’t smile, damn he didn’t need to. Pride clung to him, but it wasn’t cocky—it was natural, like he was born knowing the world bent around him.

Every gaze followed him, hung on him, like gravity itself had shifted.

I leaned toward my new friend. “Who’s that?”

Her smile widened knowingly. “That’s Elijah Daniels. Captain of the hockey team. Hottest guy in school. And…” She paused for effect. “…the Alpha’s son.”

My heart slammed against my ribs.

The son.

My new stepbrother.

Beside me, Naomi let out a dreamy sigh. “And also my biggest crush. Seriously, Claire…look at him. He’s perfect.”

I forced my gaze away, my stomach twisting. But perfect was the last word I’d use.

Chapter 004

Claire’s POV

Wild, reckless thoughts had been clawing at the edges of my mind since the moment Elijah walked into that classroom.

The way he moved, the way the air bent toward him—dreamy wasn’t even the word. Dangerous, maybe. But definitely not mine to think about.

I shoved the ridiculous images away. He wasn’t just some boy. He was the boy. The Alpha’s son. My stepbrother.

And I didn’t tell Naomi that part. She could keep her crush. I wasn’t getting anywhere near him.

When the teacher finally walked in, the room snapped quiet. She was tall, her glasses flashing under the lights, and she had the kind of face that made you believe she’d chew up excuses and spit them out before first period was over.

Her eyes scanned the room, then landed on me. “New student. Stand up. Introduce yourself.”

I swallowed, pushing to my feet. My knees felt shaky, but my voice came out steady enough. “Um, hi. I’m Claire. I just transferred here yesterday.”

There was dead silence.

A few giggles sparked from the front. Someone whispered “metal mouth,” and laughter rippled through the room.

My face burned. I darted my eyes toward Elijah, desperate for… I don’t even know what. A nod. A hint of recognition. Something.

For a second, I even wondered if maybe he didn’t realize who I was yet. Maybe he hadn’t connected me to the girl who’d just moved into his house.

But no. His gaze was flat, so cold. Like I didn’t exist.

Fine. Two could play at that game. If he wanted to treat me like a ghost, I could do the same.

I sat down, jaw tight, silently promising myself I’d have nothing to do with him. Ever.

Classes blurred by. And if being ignored by classmates wasn’t enough, watching the teacher herself sneak glances at Elijah every five minutes made me want to gag.

Seriously? She was blushing. A grown woman. Over a student. Over my stepbrother.

Naomi scribbled a note and slid it onto my hand: Can you believe her?

I scribbled back: Disgusting.

We bit back our laughter as the teacher turned back to the board, oblivious.

At some point, I excused myself from class to use the restroom. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as I splashed cold water on my face, trying to wash away the heaviness pressing on my chest. I missed Lily and June. I missed my old life, even the boring hallways of my old school. Here, I was just the awkward new girl again, a stranger in a world I didn’t belong to.

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

Pushing the door open, I stepped back into the hallway—only to slam straight into someone.

Hard chest. Broad shoulders.

Elijah.

My breath hitched, but I forced my face blank, indifferent. “Hi—uh—hello, I’m sorry,” I stammered.

His eyes flicked over me, cool and unreadable.

I scrambled for composure. “I’m Claire. I know we haven’t officially met yet, but I’m your…”

“Get out of my way.” His voice cut through mine, sharp as a blade. He brushed past me without another glance, his shoulder knocking into mine like I was nothing but air.

Heat crawled up my neck. Humiliation burned my cheeks.

I stood frozen for a beat, then forced myself to keep walking, back to class, my chin high. Fine. If that was how he wanted it? Then I wanted nothing to do with him either.

After class, Naomi tugged me toward the rink.

“You’ll love it,” she insisted.

“I don’t skate,” I reminded her, clutching my bag. “Doctor’s orders.”

“You don’t have to skate. Just watch. Be my moral support.”

And that’s how I found myself sitting on the bleachers, bundled in my jacket, watching as the players marched onto the ice.

Naomi whispered commentary like a sports announcer. “That’s Adrian, defense. Total goofball but sweet. And that’s Chris, he’s all about showing off. Oh, and that’s Noah—don’t trust him with secrets.”

I smiled faintly, letting her words distract me.

Then came the cheerleaders, bouncing onto the ice in their glittering uniforms. Naomi rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might fall out.

“That one…Jessica…she’s the ringleader. Saucy, bossy, thinks she owns the world.”

I watched them twirl and flip, laughing when one slipped and landed on her butt. Honestly, it was… kind of fun, even though it was not my thing, but Naomi’s joy made it worth sitting through.

Then practice started.

And Elijah stepped onto the ice.

The air changed again. His presence pulled everyone’s focus like gravity.

He moved like he belonged there—swift, sharp, every motion precise. The way he controlled the puck, the effortless power in his shots—people couldn’t stop cheering. Even the coach’s face lit up like Christmas morning.

Naomi clutched my arm, whispering breathlessly, “See? He’s perfect.”

I rolled my eyes, but… she wasn’t wrong.

Still, perfect or not, he was nothing to me.

Practice ended with applause. And before I could blink, Jessica strutted across the ice, her ponytail bouncing. She ran straight to Elijah, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him.

Right there. In front of everyone.

Naomi’s face twisted green with jealousy. “Ugh. I hate her.”

Me? I just felt irritated. The way people worshipped him, the way he let it happen—it left a sour taste in my mouth.

After school, Naomi and I walked out to the parking lot together.

“I’ll text you later,” she said, waving as her chauffeur pulled up in a gray Mercedes benz.

I nodded, scanning the lot for my own driver. But the space where my car had been that morning was empty.

Confused, I pulled out my phone.

A new text from Mom blinked on the screen:

“Sweetheart, the driver had to run an important errand. Ride with Elijah. He’ll drop you home”.

My stomach dropped.

Ride with Elijah?

Great. Just what I needed.

Chapter 005

Claire’s POV

When I turned around, Elijah was already there, leaning against his car like he owned the entire parking lot. His expression? Pure disgust. Like having to wait for me was the greatest insult of his life.

“Get in,” he said flatly, jerking his head toward the passenger door.

I blinked at him. “Excuse me?”

“Get. In.”

The sheer arrogance in his tone set my teeth on edge. “No thanks. I’ll find my own way home.”

His eyes shifted, like a thought slipped through he didn’t want me to see….Annoyance, maybe amusement.

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

I spun on my heel. “Then drag me.”

I didn’t know where I was going, only that it was away from him.

Heavy footsteps echoed behind me. In the next breath, a hand wrapped firmly around my arm.

I froze. Heat shot through me like sparks under my skin. Goosebumps pricked along my arms, my chest tight with a reaction I couldn’t explain.

“Get into the car. Now.”

The words were low, but commanding. His breath brushed my cheek, warm and steady. His eyes locked onto mine, scanning my face, then darting down like he was memorizing every inch.

And against every ounce of stubbornness in my body, I moved.

I slid into the passenger seat, my pulse hammering.

The ride home was… torture.

He drove like he was racing the wind, the world outside blurring into streaks of green and gray. The music blasted so loud the speakers rattled, drowning out any chance at conversation. Not that I wanted to talk to him anyway.

I pressed my forehead against the window, watching the landscape whip by. Every beat of the music pounded in my skull, and yet, underneath it all, I couldn’t shake the awareness of him. His hands gripping the wheel, veins standing out against his skin. The faint scent of cedar and musk threading through the leather of the car. The quiet intensity of his presence, filling the space even when he said nothing.

I hated it. I hated the way my body noticed him.

By the time we screeched into the driveway, my nerves were fried.

Mom and Alpha Ethan were waiting outside the mansion, side by side. Mom’s face lit up when she saw us.

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

Like I didn’t already know.

Alpha Ethan continued, his gaze firm but 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 in the faintest polite smile. “Of course, Father.”

But the cold flicker in his eyes told me the truth. He had no intention of holding my hands and guiding me anywhere.

Ethan clapped him on the shoulder. “Good. Then it’s settled.”

Before I could exhale, Mom chimed in, her voice quick and too 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 growl rumbled low, sharp enough to make my skin prickle.

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

I swallowed. He made it sound so simple. Like forcing two jagged pieces together wouldn’t hurt.

For a flicker of a second, I saw Elijah’s eyes harden—not just at me, but at my mom. The way his jaw clenched, the disdain in his gaze—it was the same way I sometimes looked at Ethan. Like he was an intruder trying to replace what couldn’t be replaced.

And for once, I didn’t blame him.

After dinner, I trudged upstairs to freshen up. A shower, a little silence—that’s all I wanted.

But just as I pulled on a clean shirt, a sharp knock rattled my door.

Before I could even answer, it swung open.

Elijah.

His aura filled the room like smoke—thick, heavy, impossible to ignore. His white shirt hung open, a few buttons undone, revealing tanned skin and lean muscle. My eyes betrayed me, flicking down before I snapped them away.

Get a grip, Claire.

“What do you want?” I asked, masking the way my heartbeat jumped.

He stepped inside, shutting the door with a soft click. His presence consumed the space, his eyes dark, unreadable.

“I have rules,” he said finally, his voice low but steady.

“Rules?” My arms crossed instinctively.

“Yeah.” He leaned closer, his height casting a shadow over me. “One: Don’t come near me at school.”

My chest tightened, but I didn’t flinch.

“Two: Even here at home, avoid me.”

Each word was sharp, deliberate, meant to cut.

“And three…” He paused, his jaw tight, eyes burning into mine. “Don’t think I won’t keep looking for a way to chase you and your mother out. You’re gold diggers. That’s all you are. Here to bleed my father dry.”

The words hit like ice water on a freezing day.

 The grief, the humiliation, the loneliness, the constant ache of being weak and unwanted—all of it boiled up.

Before I could stop myself, my hand moved.

Smack….

The sound echoed through the room.

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

My chest heaved. My hand stung.

It wasn’t weakness I felt this time—it was rage.

But the feeling only lasted all of two seconds.

Because as the sting faded from my palm, regret rushed in. What had I done? I couldn’t stand listening to him insult Mom and me, but I hadn’t thought—I’d just reacted.

Fear twisted in my stomach. What if he slapped me back?

Instead, Elijah moved slowly, deliberately. He walked toward me, his eyes dark and unreadable, every step pressing the air tighter.

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

His face hovered close, his voice a low growl that seeped into my skin, cutting me down 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. My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst.

And for the first time since meeting him, I realized—I might actually be in danger.