Nine Hot Therians and Their Only One Queen novel Chapter 386

**Title: When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley 386**

**Chapter 386 Level Twelve Elite**

Emma’s head jerked up, her gaze locking onto the imposing figure before her. The initial shock coursed through her, momentarily paralyzing her thoughts.

Tall and undeniably intimidating, Calum radiated a presence that was almost palpable.

That was her first impression of him—an impression that stuck like glue.

His aura was so potent that she instinctively took a small, cautious step back, her heart racing in her chest.

He noticed her retreat and a frown creased his brow.

He thought to himself, *My female seems… less than pleased to see me. In fact, she looks downright frightened.*

*Am I truly that intimidating?*

*Or did I let my earlier agitation get the better of me, scaring her without intending to?*

In a bid to alleviate the tension, he softened his voice before speaking again. “Greetings, Ms. Tibarn. I am Calum Jenkins from Argenclaw.”

“H-Hi…” she stammered, her smile tight and awkward, a reflection of the anxiety swirling within her.

It was hard to blame her, really.

The pressure emanating from him was like a heavy blanket, stifling and oppressive.

Just the weight of his gaze made her skin prickle uncomfortably.

“Step back a bit,” Drake interjected, moving forward and shoving Calum aside with a glare that spoke volumes of his disapproval.

“You’re intimidating Emma,” he barked, the protective instinct surging through him.

Calum’s aura was simply too intense—sharp, aggressive, and nearly suffocating.

Even Lucien and Silas, who were usually unfazed by such things, would feel the weight of it.

With Calum having ascended to level twelve, the pressure he exuded was magnified, and Drake could feel it pressing down on him like a leaden weight.

“Marshal…” Silas stepped in front of Emma, his demeanor calm yet resolute, ready to shield her. “This isn’t the right place for this conversation. We should head back first.”

“Okay!” Drake agreed, shooting Emma one last concerned glance before turning to lead the way out.

As soon as his back was turned, Emma felt a wave of relief wash over her.

*Can I back out of this match right now?* she mused, the thought lingering in her mind.

Emma’s heart raced; this man was frightening—an instinctual fear that clawed at her insides.

“Emy, are you alright?” Silas asked gently, taking her hand in his, his touch comforting.

“I’m fine,” she replied, shaking her head, though her voice trembled slightly.

Calum caught her response, and his strides faltered just a fraction.

*So my female is afraid of me. What do I do now?* he pondered, a knot of anxiety tightening in his chest.

*I’ve fought so hard to win her—losing her isn’t an option.*

They exited the Consort Pavilion, and he quickly summoned his personal warship.

“Ms. Tibarn, please accompany me,” he requested, his tone a mix of authority and desperation.

*Is it shameless? Definitely.*

*But a therian without a hint of shamelessness rarely survives long. Just because my female fears me doesn’t mean I should keep my distance.*

Tall, powerful, and frighteningly strong—this was her second impression of him.

*The only thing I’m unsure about is his character.*

*If his temperament proves agreeable, I’d certainly consider bonding with him.*

*Not for romance or sentiment, but because a level-twelve elite is essentially an elite bodyguard. Who wouldn’t want that?*

Shortly thereafter, the warship touched down in the manor’s courtyard.

Emma disembarked and said, “Silas, please prepare for the time being.”

She wasn’t one to overreact or succumb to anxiety.

*I want to understand Calum. I can’t just push him away because of my fears.*

Emma thought, *If I want to truly understand this man, I need to get familiar with him first.*

*And to become familiar, we need proximity.*

Calum hadn’t anticipated this turn of events.

He had assumed that her fear would drive her to send him away, to create distance between them.

He never expected her to actually allow him to remain close.

“Ms. Tibarn…” He looked at her, and even the menacing aura surrounding him seemed to lighten, just a bit. “May I remain… a bit closer to you?”

Emma replied, “The rooms nearest to mine are already occupied. Choose any of the others available and inform Silas.”

He turned to Silas, a flicker of hope igniting within him.