Spoiled By My Nine Beast Husbands (Emma Tibarn) novel Chapter 440

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley**
**Chapter 440: Hiding in Plain Sight**

Emma sat in the lounge, her thoughts swirling in a chaotic dance of uncertainty. The silence from Lucien gnawed at her, leaving her heart heavy with questions. What was he feeling? Guilt? Anger? Or was he simply paralyzed by fear, unable to confront the reality of their situation? Deep within her, she held onto the hope that if he had indeed seen her message, he would find his way back to her within five days—no more, no less. And when that moment finally arrived, she would make certain he understood the weight of her disappointment.

But the thought of reaching out to Calum and Marcus had not crossed her mind.

From Silas’s earlier revelations, she had learned that Calum had long since severed ties with his clan, choosing instead the life of a soldier. It was entirely possible he had returned to the army, perhaps checking in on Malrik before making his way back.

Marcus, however, was a different story altogether. She could almost envision him arriving at the manor ahead of her, finding the perfect hiding spot, and waiting patiently for the right moment to reveal himself—after she had settled in, of course.

“Emma!” Edric’s voice cut through her reverie like a warm breeze as he swung open the door to the lounge, stepping inside with a purposeful stride that radiated confidence.

“Are we at the manor?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her gaze lifting to meet his with a flicker of hope.

“Almost there,” he replied, his nod infused with a warmth that made her heart flutter. “We’ll be home in just five minutes.”

He leaned closer, his arms framing her chair, his eyes softening as they locked onto hers. “Still feeling upset?”

Emma shook her head, a smile breaking through the storm of her earlier turmoil. “Not anymore.”

With a gentle gesture, Edric leaned down and pressed a tender kiss on her forehead, a sweet promise of comfort. “After the Celestara Gala, let’s return to the alliance. You’ve always dreamed of being a hunter, haven’t you? To travel the world and capture magnificent beasts? Once we’re back, I’ll hand over the reins to Silas; he can handle the operations while I follow you. We’ll take on missions together, hunt side by side—let you truly experience the life of a hunter.”

Emma felt warmth blossom within her at his words, igniting a spark of excitement. She knew he was trying to lift her spirits, but that didn’t diminish her joy. She smiled brightly as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Alright then. When the time comes, we’ll form our own little team—and we’ll bring Corvin and the others along for the ride.”

Edric chuckled, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “It’s a deal! You’ll be the captain of our team.”

Moments later, their warship touched down at the manor, descending gracefully toward the ground. In a secluded corner, hidden among the thick bushes, a white wolf—no bigger than a kitten—crouched low, its nervous gaze fixed on the ship as it landed.

As the warship came to a stop, Emma stepped down the ramp, her expression composed and inscrutable, betraying nothing of the tempest of emotions swirling within her. Marcus, still concealed in the foliage, held his breath, unwilling to make a sound. If he dared to step out and found her still in a foul mood, she might send him away—and he had no desire to leave her side.

Instead of heading straight for the villa, Emma paused, her eyes scanning the grounds with a keen awareness.

“What are you looking for, Emy?” Silas’s voice was soft as he followed her, concern lacing his tone.

“I have a feeling someone returned before us,” she whispered, leaning closer to him, her intuition guiding her. “But I can’t quite pinpoint where he’s hiding.”

Suppressing a laugh, Silas leaned in conspiratorially. “He’s tucked away in the eastern flowerbeds, probably too frightened to show his face. Want me to drag him out?”

He had already received word from the manor’s flora the moment they touched down, alerting him to the presence of the intruder.

“No,” she replied, her demeanor calm and collected. “Let him stay there.”

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