Page 17 of Knot Their Starlet

This is who Gina Sterling is. This is what she’s willing to do to get what she wants.

I’m saved from having to come up with a response that won’t send her spiraling emotionally by a knock at the door.

“Hello there, I’m Leena, your nurse,” a young beta woman in blue scrubs says, shooting me a relieved smile. “It’s good to see you awake, Andromeda.”

“Call me Andi,” I say immediately, the muscles in my tense shoulders relaxing with the nurse’s presence. Gina always tones it down a notch when there are other people around. She has an image to uphold, after all.

“You got it, Andi,” Leena nods. “I have someone here to visit you.”

“Who?” Gina asks, spinning on her heel to face the nurse.

“He’s… Um…” Leena says, shooting me a hesitant look.

My heart stutters in my chest, and I freeze. He. Is Ezra here?

“The omega,” she continues.

I’m hit with an immediate wave of relief.

I don’t even have time to process that it seems like Beckham Knight is here to visit me before Stuart turns with a broad smile.

“Send him in! This is perfect timing. We have much to discuss.”

Leena shoots me a hesitant look before I nod.

“Alright, I’ll let him in.”

Leena shuts the door behind her, leaving me trapped again.

Gina turns to me, her expression cold.

“Remember what I said, Andromeda. Remember your options here. We all have to make sacrifices for the family, and this one is yours.”

“Yes, Mom, I understand,” I nod, the words leaving my lips on instinct.

Because this is how all our conversations end. With me agreeing to whatever she’s demanding, even if I have to bend over backwards to make it happen.

CHAPTER 4

Beckham

My foot bounces on the linoleum tile, tapping out an unsteady rhythm that betrays the nerves I can’t seem to get rid of.

“How did you even figure out which hospital she was in?” I mumble, turning to Leo.

He glances up from his phone, probably monitoring all the headlines coming out after the chaos that was last night. Cool as a cucumber, like always.

“I have my ways,” he says confidently, his shoulders—broad for a beta and built from years of swimming—shrug. “Plus, this was obviously really important to you.”

“Thank you,” I sigh, deflating into the hard plastic chair.

My burnt caramel scent starts to sour with my growing anxiety. The sterile environment of the empty exam room, all harsh bright lights and cold hard floors don’t help.

I hate that omega side of me. I should be grateful the star-struck beta nurse took mercy on us and brought us here when people started to notice me in the general waiting room.

But instead, all I can think of is the omega from last night—Andromeda Sterling—being stuck in a room like this.

Is she as bothered by the harshness as I am? She is an omega, after all.