Page 23 of Knot Their Starlet

I reach up to the side of my head, a wave of self-consciousness washing over me. I look like shit. In front of three of the most attractive people I’ve ever seen.

I learned very early on that my appearance was the thing that would get me places. It would get me the things that would force my mom to pay attention to me instead of her work.

Without it? I have nothing. I am nothing.

I’m completely defenseless.

“Who did this to you?” Beck growls. I don’t mean to stereotype, but his growl is impressive, considering his designation.

“It doesn’t matter.” I lean my chin against my knee, a wave of exhaustion washing over me. So much has happened since I woke up.

“The media are hypothesizing it’s your boyfriend,” Leo murmurs, pursing his lips.

“Ex-boyfriend,” I interrupt.

Elijah snorts, crossing his arms over his chest, the seams of his black button-up looking like they’re going to explode. “We have our answer.”

Beck lets out a soft noise at the back of his throat that sounds suspiciously close to a whimper. Everything about him is screaming a sort of heartbreak that makes me a little uncomfortable. His normally bright, sparkling eyes, dull with a deep sadness. His burnt caramel perfume takes on bitter notes that I can taste at the back of my throat.

I don’t know how to handle it. No one has ever cared about me like this. Especially not a person I’ve known for less than twenty-four hours.

Ezra and I dated for years, and he’s never looked at me like Beck is right now. Is it an omega thing? Or is it a him thing?

“It was the first time,” I mumble, feeling the pressure to say something to reassure him.

I don’t think it was very successful.

“What’re you gonna do about it?” Elijah asks, glaring at me with those dark eyes I’m starting to feel progressively more and more annoyed by.

I like oranges, but maybe I’ll have to reconsider that. I’ll never be able to get rid of the association between that blood orange scent of his and the actual real deal.

“Why the hell is it any of your business?”

“It became my business when you bled all over Beck, because he is my business,” he snaps.

“Why do you care? All you seem to do is be at my throat because you’re worried about me keeping a secret I’ve already promised to keep.”

The bastard just shrugs.

“I hate alphas who beat down on those weaker than them, even more than I hate prissy little, fame-hungry influencers.”

Beck lets out a huff, shooting a glare at Eli.

It doesn’t lessen the impact of his words. They’re like lashes, cutting through my skin like paper. That’s the image I show the world. I know it. But having it shoved down my throat, said with such vitriol? It hurts.

That’s not all I am. Hell, I don’t think that’s even who I am in the first place.

But who even am I? What right do I have to say that the image I put out into the world isn’t who I am?

Crushed by the interaction, my shoulders curl in on themselves. I feel the little hold I have over myself—my true self—withdraw into the dark hole in my head I go to when I can’t handle life.

“I’m not going to do anything,” I mumble.

“Figures,” Elijah snorts. His gaze feels even heavier after I’ve been flayed open by his words.

“That’s enough, Eli, shut up,” Beck snaps. He turns to me, reaching out a hesitant hand. He rests it on my shoulder when I don’t protest. “Don’t listen to him. He’s an ass. But why can’t you? I’m sure you could file a police report or something. Maybe something with the Omega Center Network at the very least?”

I shake my head, unable to meet his gaze. I know if I look into those expressive windows into his soul that I’ll crumble in the face of a kindness I’ve never had the privilege of experiencing.