Rejected My Alpha Mate novel Chapter 18

Rachel POV

Camelot Records Auditorium

I was going to vomit.

"Rachel! I'm so proud of you! We had hundreds of thousands of viewers tuned in! They're going crazy for your real life love story."

Waving at Howard, I gestured to the restroom, "I'm so glad. Please excuse me. I need to---"

"Now you want to be excused? Why the urge now?"

Stunned, I found myself unable to finish speaking. I hadn't expected Tyler to be present for the press conference. Moonrise Entertainment did a lot of business with Camelot Records, but my contract would have been no interest to them as I was signed as a live act with recording contracts only.

Moonrise dealt with performers whose work was in film or special productions they could sell out based on their limited engagement status.

My tour schedule was going to keep me busy for the next two years. I wouldn't be a rare commodity anywhere except my own bed---which suited me fine as I didn't even have a bed to call my own at present.

"Aren't you going to explain yourself?"

"I don't see what I have to explain, Tyler. Why do you care? Why are you even here?"

"I can't come see my mate perform tricks for an audience? Everyone is welcome except me?"

I winced at his description. Some would think I felt as if I were being put on display as a prized pet, but I saw this press conference as a chance to showcase my musical talent which I'd been forced to hide away for too long already.

I was not going to be shamed into silence because Tyler Wright was hurt my life hadn't ended when I rejected him.

Straightening my spine, I forced down my nausea to bite out, "I was told this press conference was to introduce me and my music to the world as Camelot Records latest signed artist. They seem quite pleased with my tricks. If you're unimpressed, you're welcome to leave. If you want to stay, you're welcome to do that, too. Give me my rejection and I won't care who welcomes you where for the rest of your life."

"You talk too much," Tyler said bitterly.

He stopped looking at me; I was glad for the reprieve because my nausea was touch-and-go. The pregnancy sickness had taken hold of me with a vengeance. I wasn't safe from it based on time of day or type of meal I ate. All I could do was find a facility when the urge struck and clean myself up afterwards.

"No, I didn't talk enough. If I had, I would have told you I was leaving years ago to spare us both this moment. Excuse me."

I desperately needed the restroom facility to splash water on my face if nothing else. I could sometimes fight back the nausea if I cooled myself down quickly enough. Tyler would have to hold onto his offended sensibilities for a few moments while I composed myself.

"Go," Howard urged me, touching my elbow gently to catch my attention, giving a subtle nod to Tyler to let me know he would handle him for a few moments.

I had no words for my gratitude so I hoped my relieved smile was enough. I didn't hear what Howard was saying, my focus was on getting into the bathroom to cool down. I felt as if I were wearing a shroud rather than the delicate blue silk sheath Bella had loaned me.

Soaking paper towels under the cool water, I rubbed the back of my neck, my collarbones, down into my decolletage. I chased away every hint of sweat with the cold, refreshing towels and gradually found my temperature going down along with the urge to be sick.

"Don't tell me you're sick of fame already. I would think you'd be loving this as attention-starved as you are, but what do I know?"

Charlotte Wright was the last person I wanted to talk with alone in the lavatory. I finished refreshing myself then tossed the used towels before striding past her without a word. She dogged my footsteps which was fitting for a bitch of her caliber.

"Ready for your adoring audience again, are you? Better hurry. They'll forget your name if you're gone too long."

"I doubt that. My name is on all the signs, brochures, and the limited edition drives you can get a copy of my hit song on---if you're with the press. I could ask my agent if he could get one for your personal use, Charlotte? If you're feeling left out?"

"I have an extra right here!"

Howard held out a thumb drive with my name and new logo on it. He beamed at her with his best agent smile on display; it was all teeth like a shiny-toothed shark just as an agent should be. I would have kissed him right on his bald head if Tyler hadn't been right there.

"You absolute bitch---"

"Char! Wow, the language is a little much, don't you think?"

I was stunned into silence as I realized Nathan Lewis had stepped out of my teenage dreams into my reality. Charlotte Wright looked as if he'd slapped her in the face. I wanted to hug his neck. Damn my ex-mate for lurking like a giant Alpha-hole.

"Nathan," I said, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm friends with Charlotte who I was under the impression was a friend of yours, but I'm questioning that assumption now."

Charlotte Wright would have been invited as part of House Wright representing Moonrise Pack and their interests in the entertainment industry. She wouldn't have come if not for Nathan. I didn't need her to tell me as much.

"I'm only trying to clue you in to the real Rachel. You do know she's spent the last several years living off my brother's good nature?"

Nathan sent a confused glance toward Tyler who looked anything other than good-natured, "I can't believe this is the first time we've met in person. We never seemed to be in the same place at the same time before. Charlotte attended summer school with me while Rachel and I shared secondary school together during the regular terms. It seems Rachel still remembers me as fondly as I remember her, too."

I found myself answering Nathan's smile with my own. He'd always been able to get a smile out of me no matter how hard my day might have been. There were some people whose personalities were infectious and Nathan Lewis was one of those.

I couldn't believe my luck! He'd heard my interview! Live!

Laughing, I shook my head, "Nathan Lewis, there is no woman on Earth who would ever be able to forget you. You are the kind of man who is unforgettable."

"I must be missing something though because I think this might be the guy you left me for? The reason we didn't make it to college together?"

My smile faded the way my dreams had on those long ago nights.

"She says she's his mate," Charlotte said smugly.

"Then she's his mate," Nathan stated, "Char, you're friends with some females who redefine the rules of the game, but Rachel never played. I always knew if she found her fated mate, we would be over. I wondered, of course, but I respect her enough not to pry. You should show some respect yourself because what you are showing? Isn't pretty."

"Watch how you talk to my sister!" Tyler snapped.

Naturally he wouldn't defend me. The difference between Tyler and Nathan was as obvious as night-and-day for all they both were Alpha Heir to their respective houses.

"You don't care your sister watches how she talks to your mate?"

"Former mate," I slid in smoothly, moving forward to place myself between Howard and Nathan as I angled myself away from Tyler, "Tyler Wright and I are finalizing our rejection ceremony. After three years of trying, we have come to understand we are not suitable as mates regardless of the Moon Goddess' intentions."

Nathan raised his brows in surprise; I knew it was a shock for me to come right out and confess to a formal rejection rite. Fated mates were precious to all our kind and Nathan had known I was saving my virginity for my own as it was the only reason we had never been intimate.

"Are you hoping for a second chance mate?"

I found myself returning his grin again, "Maybe I am? I've done quite well with Love at the First Sight. Why couldn't my next hit be Love at a Second Glance?"

"You can send a second glance my way anytime, Rachel Flores."

"Maybe I will, Nathan Lewis. Maybe I just will."

"Enough!" Tyler barked, grabbing my arm to drag me away from the group, "You owe me a conversation. Now!"