Spoiled By My Nine Beast Husbands (Emma Tibarn) novel Chapter 472

**When She Opened the Door to the Life She Was Afraid to Live by Nora Vale Kingsley 472**
**Chapter 472 Bound to Win Her Over Someday**

Alaric leaned back slightly, his gaze lifting just enough to meet Stella’s eyes. “You know, liking her is my business,” he stated with a hint of defiance in his voice. “If I can’t even pursue my own woman without you swooping in to play the peacemaker, then I might as well throw in the towel and stop calling myself your older brother.” The flickering flames of the fire danced in the depths of his eyes, casting shadows that hinted at his deeper thoughts.

Stella frowned, her brow furrowing as she observed him. “But Emma turned you down. Aren’t you upset about that?” Her voice held a note of disbelief, for she couldn’t fathom how he could remain so composed. If she were in his shoes, a rejection would have left her in a state of despair, unable to even think of food.

Alaric chuckled softly, the sound mingling with the crackling of the fire, rendering it almost soothing. “Upset?” he repeated, his tone light and teasing, as if he were sharing an inside joke. He shook his head slightly, his confidence radiating from him like a warm glow. “Why would I be upset?”

Stella’s eyes widened in surprise at his nonchalance. Alaric continued, his voice steady and unhurried. “She turned me down once, sure. But that doesn’t mean it’s a permanent rejection. Right now, she simply doesn’t know me well enough.”

With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed the empty skewer into the fire, watching as sparks erupted into the air like fleeting stars. The corner of his mouth curled into a slow, enigmatic smile. “Feelings take time to develop, Stella. Emma has a circle of friends around her. If I were to just appear out of nowhere, suddenly demanding a spot in her life, it’s only natural for her to resist. If she accepted me immediately, I’d start to question whether she truly valued her friendships.”

He paused for a moment, gauging Stella’s reaction. “And when she said no, she wasn’t harsh about it, was she? That tells me she doesn’t harbor any ill feelings towards me. For now, that’s more than enough.”

Turning to face her fully, Alaric’s eyes sparkled with mischief and certainty, like a clever fox anticipating its next move. “One rejection? It’s nothing. She might say no again, or even a few more times—ten times, who knows? We have thousands of years ahead of us. With that kind of time, I’m absolutely bound to win her over eventually.”

Stella stared at him, her mind reeling. Was this really a different perspective? Alaric’s way of thinking was truly something else.

—

Meanwhile, as Alaric and Stella engaged in their conversation, Emma was busy helping Lucien navigate his way back to the hotel. She could feel the weight of his presence leaning heavily against her, and she knew she had to tend to the fire mark that clung stubbornly to his brow later that night. With a firm but gentle tone, she instructed Calum and Marcus to secure their own rooms for the night.

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