Rejected My Alpha Mate novel Chapter 16

Rachel POV

One Week Later

"I think you really should let me put your hair up at least partially. In case, you know," Bella mimed throwing up, "It has been happening a lot lately."

I laughed easily because she was right. Morning sickness was troubling me more than expected. I still had dizzy spells and was forced to keep a tight check on my diet, but my whole life had changed in a week.

Joy was my constant companion.

"Go ahead! I'll just sit here and pretend I'm at the salon."

Sitting on the couch, I turned so Bella could reach my hair. She and I were around the same size which had come in handy in the past when sharing clothes.

Our mothers had joked we only became friends to double our wardrobes.

I missed my mother terribly. Tears prickled my eyes and I sniffed at the sudden realization my mother would never see my child.

"Seriously? You're crying? You're going to give Salon Bella a bad name! Stop right this instant!"

"The hormones are getting to me! Salon Bella is providing excellent service. Does the salon offer cosmetic assistance too?"

I really didn't want to go do my makeup. Standing in the bathroom for any length of time made me feel ill. My suspicion was the room had poor airflow with only a small window which didn't open.

Bella tugged my hair gently, "Needy much? You're lucky you're my favorite customer. Plus, I do not want you going on camera looking like a ghost."

I grinned, "I know, right? I didn't think it was possible for me to look so white. I was born with a natural golden tan!"

All the morning sickness in combination with the problems I was experiencing with my blood pressure caused me to look pale, almost ashen, all the time. Fatigue wore on me often, but I worked my way through it by focusing on the positives in my life.

Of which there were many!

"I can't believe they're doing a press conference."

"I can't believe it's taken this long for you to realize you're a superstar!" Bella cheered as she fetched her cosmetic bag from the bathroom, "Did you check the numbers on YouTube recently? You've gone over 100 million views on the proposal video!"

"I haven't checked. I don't want to let it go to my head!"

I laughed, but I was telling the truth about trying to avoid becoming too impressed with myself. My natural confidence had returned in full force since I'd rejected Tyler. Living with Bella allowed me a freedom of expression I had lost for the full three years of my mating.

I felt slight guilt Bella was delaying moving in with her mate, Jack, but they were both being supportive of me above their own needs.

"Enjoy it! Girl, you are on fire! Flame on!"

Bella was the world's best cheerleader.

I cheered alongside her as I thought on all those people listening to me sing.

My performance at Blue Diamond had been magical for me because it hadn't been planned. All I put out there was myself: only me and nothing else.

Feeling accepted, embraced, even adored by millions of people made me feel vindicated for every hour I'd spent composing music alone physically and mentally.

My mate hadn't wanted me. My father hadn't wanted me. My first love had been taken from me by the cruelty of fate.

Music had been my only outlet and finally I could prove to the world I was a true musician!

"Do you think I should wear something more flashy? I don't look too fiery," I admitted.

I had left my designer clothes with Tyler. My wardrobe was helped with Bella's due to her generosity of spirit, but I didn't have anything I would consider attention-getting.

Not for a press conference!

My wolf, Rayne, stirred in my mind, offering to me, 'I think we should go with blue. Red is gawdy.'

"Rayne says I should go with something blue. Do you have anything I could wear?"

My simple dress was too boring by far. The press were looking for a woman who brought a whole restaurant to tears with her music. Showing up in a cotton sundress wasn't captivating to anyone.

"Rayne is right, as usual," Bella agreed, stopping her work on my face, "I think I have something which will work! Give me a few minutes!"

Bella hurried to her bedroom closet while I picked up a compact to look at the work she'd done on my face. I had more color with the concealer and foundation.

I didn't have to check the lipstick to know it would be a deep red, rich and bold.

I wished I had someone to talk to about my sudden stardom.

Bella cheered me on as did her mate Jack. My brother had called me to tell me I was amazing after he watched my performance.

Patrick, my father, hadn't bothered to reach out at all. I knew he would only come around after the press conference since he'd be sniffing after any hint of money I could offer him.

"Tell me this isn't perfect! I double-dog dare you!" Bella crowed as she showed me a gown I'd never seen her wear before.

She brought it to me to examine and I noticed the tags were still on it.

Raising a brow, I asked, "Never found a reason to wear it yourself?"

"Can you blame me? It isn't exactly the kind of thing I could wear out for coffee or for a bite at a diner with Jack."

I was a little intimidated by the sleek satin sheath with its ultra-thin straps.

Bella was offering me a dress daring even by her standards---and I was going to wear it!

"It's perfect!"

I was not going to cower in any corner any longer. My music had finally been noticed. I stood up and stripped, slipping the dress on only to realize I would have to forgo my bra.

Fine! I would go without!

I was a bold, daring woman whose music moved mountains and the hearts of my audience. I shimmied out of my undergarment, then smoothed my borrowed gown into place.

"This was made for you, Rachel. Absolutely made for you."

Bella sounded breathless. I called it a victory.

"I think we should go meet my agent now."

I straightened my spine, drew my shoulders back proudly, and made my way to the door. I could still enjoy walking in heels even if I did worry my stomach might rebel at some point.

We wound up arriving at the auditorium of Camelot Records early enough to only be snapped a few times by the most ambitious paparazzi. Howard, who remained my agent, ushered us over to an area in the wings off the edge of the stage.

Camelot Records did private audiences at their headquarters to promote new acts.

I would be singing my song 'Love at the First Sight' for the press before they were going to be allowed to interview me.

"We have you a seat reserved upfront," Howard directed, pushing Bella off to her place and me towards the piano as if we had done this a thousand times before, "Go to Brent -Head of Security- and he'll bring you back to the mixer afterward, Bella."

I hugged Bella once, tight, before taking the stage with the gait of a woman walking toward her destiny.

I wasn't an unwanted fated mate. I wasn't a pregnant woman facing raising a child alone. I wasn't the sad, small woman I had let Tyler Wright turn me into for three years.

As I settled on the piano bench before my audience, I was Rachel Flores: singer, songwriter, star!