Rejected My Alpha Mate novel Chapter 20

Tyler POV

LUST

Going back to the beginning sounded like a better idea than it was proving to be as a reality.

"You want another drink?"

Tyler nudged his tumbler back toward the bartender who obediently refilled it. They were drinking well drinks which were higher quality at LUST than other establishments.

One of the main advantages to being a patron of LUST was the fact all their amenities were better than the average establishment's and their prices reflected as much.

"Rachel is everywhere, man! I swear your mate is going to double my next quarter returns. Every news agency has run a byline or at least a blurb. She's on all the social medias. She's trending on most of them!"

"Dylan?"

Dylan looked up from his phone with barely concealed glee plastered all over his face. He was loving the success Camelot was celebrating courtesy of Rachel's fame. She was approaching meteoric if his yammering was anything to go on and Tyler knew Dylan never exaggerated his business dealings with him.

They were too close to compete with one another in the business arena. As far as Tyler was concerned, Dylan Roberts was the brother he'd always wanted for himself. Dylan was a Hell of a lot more reliable than his actual brother William.

"Shut up. I don't want to talk about Rachel."

"That makes you the only one. You want to tell me what you do want to talk about? Why are we here of all places? You have an itch I should be helping you scratch?"

Neither of them were above admitting they'd indulged in the offerings of the club in the past. Paying for sex was easier than working for it with a lot of talk though neither Dylan nor Tyler had ever needed to worry about buying company.

They could have gotten women based on looks and Alpha status alone. With their money and name recognition, most women would accept a pick-up from either of them.

"No. No itches. I'm just trying to remind myself of something."

"Something wouldn't happen to be the first time you met one Rachel Flores would it?"

Dylan was going to be spoon fed his shit-eating grin if he didn't wipe it off his face.

Tyler frowned at him, "You know I met her here."

"Yes. I do remember. It was a pretty memorable night for both of us. I got to experience twins and you found your fated mate---only to lose her hours later. I still remember how you sounded when you called me asking if I had seen her leave!"

Tyler hadn't known what to think about his mate taking off without even leaving her name. She never explained fully, but Tyler knew it had something to do with her father's gambling debts. They had wound up in a world of misery together thanks to Patrick Flores and his bad luck at the gaming hells.

"Her old man put her up to that. You know, right?"

Tyler nodded and finished throwing back his drink. He dragged his finger around the rim of the glass as he considered whether he wanted to tie one on or go slow.

Liquor made things easier to bear---but it also had the side effect of making Tyler vulnerable to spilling his feelings out for others to hear.

"Would you like another, sir?"

"I'd like one," a feminine voice cooed and Tyler tensed, frowning as he watched Jenny slide onto the stool beside him, "I think my friend will take one as well. We're going to drink to our health!"

Tyler covered his glass with his hand to stop the bartender from pouring. He wasn't in the mood to deal with Jenny. Was the woman having some sort of psychotic episode? She had to know he'd been serious when he'd shooed her away before.

"Jenny. What are you doing here?"

"I like the drinks---and the company," Jenny said, "Aren't you going to share even one drink with me for old times sake?"

Jenny pouted and Tyler had to resist the urge to slap her. How could he have ever thought she was beautiful? She was so fake it was almost as if he were watching a robot pretending to be human. He doubted Jenny had felt anything real in years.

"No. We aren't keeping company together, Jenny. You should find someone else to occupy your time with now."

Tyler wasn't going to have anything to do with her in the future. He was rejecting his mate tomorrow then he was going to drink until he forgot he'd performed the rejection ritual. After that? Tyler just hoped he woke up with his memory intact so he didn't have to relive losing Rachel again.

"I don't want to find someone else. I've already found you and you're all I want, Tyler."

Jenny pressed her breasts against my arm as she leaned over me. I could smell the liquor on her breath; I wanted to shove her away, but, before I could, a waiter tripped, spilling a pair of champagne flutes all over Jenny.

"You idiot!" she shrieked.

"I'm so sorry, lady! Let me get you a towel."

The bartender hastily wiped at the spill on the bar with his rag. He offered a stack of fine napkins as he tried to soothe Jenny. Her dress didn't look as if it were good material to be doused in alcohol.

"I want to speak to your manager! Right now!"

"I said I was sorry," the boy snapped, turning the tray over to the bartender. He looked as annoyed as Jenny. I was getting a headache just thinking about the situation and stood up, ready to leave.

There was nothing for me here in this club. I had found my fated mate here purely by chance -or literally by the hand of fate if common beliefs about the Moon Goddess were to be believed- and I wasn't going to have another try to find her again.

A man made his way over to our group as I was paying. I placed several bills down. There would be plenty for a tip remaining even if the drinks were twice as expensive as I estimated.

"Tyler, let me just settle this and we can go."

"We aren't going anywhere, Jenny."

I would be damned before I would take Jenny anywhere ever again. I was sick of the fake bitch and I just wanted to go home. To my empty house.

"Of course we are! You've finally gotten that gold digging whore out of your life so we can be together!"

"Rachel isn't your concern."

I was prepared to have to fight Jenny off to get out of the club, but I wasn't prepared to get a fist to the face!

My cheek exploded in pain and my vision blanked out for a moment. There was a lot of power behind the suckerpunch! Who had hit me? Why? What was going on?

"You are so getting fired! I will have your ass thrown in jail for this! Tyler, are you alright? Get him some ice! Right now, idiot!"

The bartender moved to start putting ice into a cloth while shooting panicked glances at the kid who had spilled his tray on Jenny. What was this kid thinking? I had a good six inches on him in height not to mention more muscle than worth measuring. I could take him apart without even using any of my wolf abilities.

Jenny went to press the ice to my face and I shoved her off.

"Do not touch me, Jenny!"

"Trouble in paradise already?"

I shot a confused look at the boy. I really had no idea what had set him off on me. Did he have a thing for Jenny? Was he some scorned lover? She seemed too old for him and she was definitely out of his league from a social standpoint.

"What?"

"Aren't you supposed to be sweeping her off her feet to save her from the bad waiter?"

I wasn't interested in whatever was happening. I shrugged irritably as Dylan stood to try to get between me and the kid.

"I think we need to take a minute to breathe here. Tyler, you should get some of that ice. What's the problem, kid?"

"What's the problem? The problem is his slut just called my sister a whore and he didn't even try to defend her!"

"Rachel is your sister?"

I searched his face with my eyes and I could see a resemblance to Rachel there though he definitely looked more like Patrick than Rachel. He must not have inherited much from their mother. I had never allowed Rachel to bring her family to my home so this was the first time I'd even seen the boy.

"Yes, Rachel is my sister, you asshole! Who did you think I was? Are you such a tool people punch you every day?"

"Ethan! That is enough!"

I realized the manager must have arrived as a woman slipped between me and the waiter. She held a hand up in front of Ethan as if she were warding him off. I wished he would try to hit me again. I could use the chance to let off some steam of my own though one good hit from me might take him out. Was he even old enough to be in this club?

"No, Ethan, keep talking. Tell me all about it."