Page 85 of Knot All is Forgiven

The Alpha tilts his head to the side. "No. If she asks me what I think, I'll tell her, but otherwise, I will let her make her own decisions." He slips his sneakers on and grabs his keys. "She's had her decisions taken away too many times already. I'm not doing it as well."

ABOSS is alive withthe excitement of a live broadcast, but I'm exhausted.

Tonight's match is a rivalry game, but my head isn't in it. A PA hands me a stack of papers, stats, and factoids to drop into today's broadcast, and my eyes cross as I try to read it.

Quinn, my cohost, lowers himself down next to me. The Alpha's dark skin is rich under the studio lights. His braids are gathered with a strap at the back of his neck as he flips through his own pre-game package. "You alright, Cyrus?" he asks.

"Not really," I mutter, throwing my head back. "Actually, no, not at all."

"Penny for your thoughts?" the older Alpha asks. He's in his mid-forties but acts like a friendly grandfather most of the time. "Omega troubles?"

"Yeah, how'd you guess?"

"Only one thing makes an Alpha look like," he gestures up and down, highlighting my whole body, "that."

"Fuck off, old man," I grumble, balling up a piece of paper and tossing it at him.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Nothing to talk about. I fucked up, and she hasn't forgiven me." Someone from makeup comes over and powders my face, while another woman from hair redoes the bun of curly hair on the top of my head.

"You apologize?" Quinn asks.

"Oh my God, why didn't I think of that?" I drawl, shooting daggers with my eyes. "Of course, I tried to, but she won't let me get the words out."

Makeup moves onto Quinn, and he closes his eyes as they powder his face. "My Omega is stubborn as fuck," he says with a chuckle. "Sometimes, I have to force him to listen. Not give him a choice." He opens one eye and peers at me. "You get what I'm saying?"

No, I don't. I really, really don't understand what he's saying. It's not like I can tie her up and force her to listen to what I have to say.

I mean, I'd love to tie her up, but not for that reason.

Fuck. I can't let my mind drift to how pretty she'd look wrapped in ropes. The last thing I need is to fight a fucking boner while I'm on live television.

A PA approaches the other side of the desk and places her hands on top. "Mr. Stargazer?" she asks gently.

I look up at her, clocking that she's new, but something about her is familiar. Her dark emerald eyes and pouty bottom lip tease the back of my memory. "Yeah?" I ask gruffly.

"I'm Athena, I'm -"

"Icarus' sister," I interrupt. No wonder she looks familiar. Damn, they look alike. "He didn't mention that you work here."

"He doesn't know," she says with a shrug. She crosses her arms over her chest, her black shirt bunching up. She's dressed in all black like all the PAs, and I wonder how long she's been here. What has she seen?

I haven't always been the most professional, and there have been some drama and escapades I've engaged in that I'm not proud of. What if she spills those secrets to Jordan?

Tension ripples along my shoulders, and I have the distinct impression she knows why I suddenly tremble with anxiety when she smirks.

With a sigh, she leans against my desk. "I'm assuming Icarus told you some about my personal life."

It's not a question, but I answer as if it was. "Yeah, he did."

"Yeah, he can't keep his giant, stupid mouth shut," she grumbles and then drops her voice to add, "fucking Icky." Clearing her throat, she pins me with a brutal glare. "I love Jordan as if she's my sister."

"I love her too," I impress upon her. "I always have."

"Well, just know she knows my story." We stare at one another as her words sink in. Comprehension must flash across my face because she adds, "It wasn't easy to share, but she deserved to know the fate you were trying to save her from." Her voice cracks at the end of the sentence, and she ducks her head. "I just thought you should know."

She walks away quickly, and her words spin in my head. How did Jordan react to what Athena went through?

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