Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 18

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley**
**Chapter 18: Emma’s Generosity**

This was an opportunity too precious to let slip through her fingers. Emma knew it, and Laura felt a surge of excitement at the thought of what lay ahead.

Laura couldn’t say she was taken aback by Emma’s response. “I knew you’d go,” she declared, a knowing smile playing on her lips, reflecting the unwavering confidence she had in her friend.

Back in the past, had Laura been aware of the Chitinids lurking nearby, she would have kept that information to herself, a protective instinct urging her to shield Emma from potential danger. But now, everything had changed. Emma had a partner by her side, a steadfast guardian who would stand against any threat, including the fearsome Chitinids. The weight of solitude had lifted from Emma’s shoulders, and Laura felt a warmth bloom in her chest at the thought.

With a twinkle of mischief in her eye, Laura leaned closer, her voice laced with curiosity. “So, your matches should all be arriving any minute now. How’s it going with them?”

Emma let out a heavy sigh, the sound carrying a hint of disappointment. “Well, I guess luck isn’t on my side this time. Only two showed up, two decided to break it off, and the rest? Not a single word from them. I can only bring one Rank 5 match with me on this trip.”

The reality of the situation sank in. Drake was definitely out of the picture, leaving only Damian, who was blissfully unaware of the unfolding drama. Emma realized she might have to depend on her own strength after all.

“What?” Laura’s eyes widened in disbelief, her voice rising in incredulity. “They actually broke it off with you and didn’t even bother to reach out? Are those guys completely out of their minds?”

Emma nodded, her expression a mixture of disappointment and resignation.

“Maybe they think I’m too weak—a Rank 4 Etherian,” she mused, the words tinged with self-doubt.

Laura felt a surge of anger bubble within her, her protective instincts flaring up. “Seriously, the Beast God must’ve spoiled them rotten! How dare they treat you like this!”

“Don’t worry, Emma,” she urged, her voice firm. “If they don’t contact you, just end it yourself. In three months, the Beast God will match you with nine better options.”

The rules of the Beastmate System were well-known: if a female successfully matched with more than five males during her first attempt, she would have to wait three long years before she could try again. However, if her initial match failed and she broke off five or more out of nine, she could have another shot in just a month.

Emma, however, was in no rush. If this attempt turned out to be a bust, she would simply wait until she reached Rank 5 before trying again. Higher ranks promised stronger, more appealing matches, and she was determined to make the most of it.

“Don’t worry about me, Laura. I’m fine. If they’re foolish enough to overlook a great female like me, that’s their loss,” Emma reassured, her confidence returning.

After finalizing the details of her departure and organizing her gear, Emma knew it was time to leave. She handed Laura a bottle of her homemade fruit wine, a small token of appreciation, before hurrying off to gather her supplies.

Rather than heading straight home, she decided to stop downtown to pick up some much-needed gear. By the time she returned, the clock read 4 p.m.

With a generous heart, Emma rummaged through her storage band, pulling out five packs of the dreaded fluid and handing them to him.

“Here,” she said, her tone light.

These were the cheapest packs available in the Interstellar Empire, costing only twenty each. She had no qualms about giving them away; Damian could take as many as he wanted.

“Ms. Tibarn, you actually drink these?” Damian’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the packs. Even the beasts wouldn’t touch this stuff. And here she was, offering it to him?

Emma nodded, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. “Yep. When I first arrived in the Interstellar Empire, I had no money. All my star coins went to buying beast cores, so this was all I could afford.”

Damian’s expression shifted from disbelief to sympathy, his mouth twitching at the thought of her past struggles.

Those packs were notorious, crafted by Nexus Prime Tech from the most undesirable beast organs—ingredients that nobody wanted. Cheap and abundant, they were the staple of low-income Subtherians. He couldn’t fathom that Emma had been so broke that she had to resort to drinking this.

Seeing the conflict in his eyes, she urged him gently, “Aren’t you hungry? Drink up! I know it tastes terrible, but I’m in a tight spot. You’ll just have to make do for now.”