Page 18 of Knot Their Starlet

Her name is breathtaking—just like she is. It doesn’t matter that she was covered in blood and scared out of her mind. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t frozen on my knees in front of Eli’s undone zipper because I was shocked at how stunning she was.

“This is a bad fucking idea,” Eli grumbles, his boot furiously tapping on the linoleum floor.

“Wow, I didn’t know you were that cold-hearted, Eli,” Leo says. “The girl looked like she was in bad shape, from the pictures.”

“She was,” I cut in. “There was so much blood, it was insane.”

I clutch the flowers we bought on the way, the cellophane wrapping crinkling under my fingers.

“But she saw us,” Eli growls, lowering his voice, even though we were given a private room to wait in.

“She also promised she wouldn’t tell,” I murmur, picking at my cuticles.

“Stop that,” Eli bites out, smacking my hands and nearly sending the flowers scattering to the floor.

“You’re a caveman!” I huff, clutching the flowers closer to my chest.

“Don’t hurt yourself,” Eli grumbles, sitting back with his arms crossed over his chest.

He’s wearing a black button-up shirt today. One he’s nearly exploding out of.

Normally, it’s all old graphic T-shirts and ripped jeans, but he’s dressed up today. Because technically, he’s here in an official capacity as my manager.

This whole thing with Andromeda has blown up far bigger than I ever would’ve thought it would when I was helping her into the ambulance.

“We’ll go in and talk with her, if we can,” Leo says, ever the mediator between Eli and I’s drastically different ends of the emotional spectrum. “Figure out where her head is at after everything. I’m sure last night was traumatic for her. And we’ll also make sure that you’re protected, Beck.”

“Okay,” I nod, inhaling a shaky breath. “I can do that.”

There’s a knock at the door of our hospital exam room turned private waiting room.

“Hello!” Leena, the cheery young beta nurse, says, peeking her head in. “I just spoke with Miss Sterling. She’s awake now!”

“Is she—is she willing to see us?” I ask, perched on the edge of my seat.

“Yes, I’ll show you to her room,” Leena nods.

“Thank you for giving us a private room,” Leo says, offering her a nod of thanks.

“Of course! Anything for you guys. Congrats on your Grammy, by the way,” Leena says. “I’ve been listening to your music ever since I heard your cover of Breathe Me! Literally brought me to tears, your voice is angelic. You so deserve it, especially after you’ve started releasing your own music!”

Leena’s enthusiasm soothes my frayed nerves, and my burnt caramel perfume sweetens ever so slightly.

“Really?” I say, flashing her a bright smile. “I sang that cover forever ago, thanks for supporting my music!”

One thing I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of is meeting people who are genuine fans of my music. There’ve been a lot of people who’ve shown interest in me and my career because of my designation and its allure, but there’s something special to me about the people who actually care about the part of this whole thing that means the world to me.

“Of course!” Leena smiles, guiding us down the hall.

There’s a part of me that thinks I was destined for this life. Destined to share my music and art with the world. Make people feel things. Give them a little window into my brain.

There’s an even bigger part of me that worries that no one would even give a damn if I weren’t an omega.

“You okay?” Eli murmurs, his voice a low vibration through the air.

“Hmm?”

“Your scent,” he says, his eyes scanning the hallway for any signs of danger.