The Alpha King’s Rejected Mate
Chapter 4

TYLER

The bus seemed to be moving slower as I got closer to my destination. Soon, I would have to get out and face the fact that I was back home with my tail between my legs. With my family dead and me being gone so long, I didn’t even know who was left that I’d have to confront.

Nothing had changed. It was still this small-a*s town with two stop lights and only a few thousand people—there were far more horses and cows. Once I got out, I never wanted to come back. I wanted to make something of myself somewhere else. My dream was to be a singer, but, apparently, I did not have what it took.

I thought I did, even got a manager who promised me fame and fortune. Unfortunately, that manager was full of shit, and I quickly realized that when all the money he promised was going to come pouring in never did. And if any ever did come in, I sure as heck didn’t get any of it. I was coming back to town a failure with only a few grand in my pocket.

The bus stopped at a gas station only a couple blocks down from Dotty’s, where I was going. I grabbed my backpack and the duffel bag above my seat, and started to get off of the bus. Why did I feel like this was literally the end of the world?

Now that I was back, I wondered if I would ever get out again. I could still be a big star. It wasn’t me who failed to make it big—I just didn’t have the right representation. Spending my life here in this town was never something I planned on doing.

It felt different as soon as my feet hit the pavement. I could feel the energy. I truly believed there was something to be said about the magical properties in this town. Whatever it was, wherever it came from, I already felt more powerful, stronger in all ways, and the immediate surge running through me was actually a relief. I had been gone for several years and I was afraid I had remembered it wrong. I remembered it feeling so good that it couldn’t be real.

Taking in the new feeling was enough to get me moving. I needed to figure out my next step, and since my whole career had started at Dotty’s, I was hoping she would be able to save my a*s again. All I had to do was be found, have someone really see me and give me a chance. I would wait for another recruiter to come in and notice me. With the right manager, I was sure I would be able to figure it out. I had real high hopes that I could get back to where I was before. The idea of being back here for good was honestly more than I could handle. Nothing would ever keep me in this town for long

I realized pretty quickly that Dotty wasn’t going to make everything better. She did not own the bar anymore. After a quick moment to pull myself together, I decided to replace out who was running the place. I could just as easily convince the new owner to do the same thing I’d been hoping Dotty could do for me. There was still live music, so they likely still needed singers. This would be fine, I told myself, trying not to let my mind go in a funk.

I didn’t recognize the bartender or the man who was obviously the manager or the owner talking to him on the other side of the bar. He was a little bit shorter than my five-foot-ten frame. He was bald and had an unlit cigar unlit in his mouth. That was the person that I had to speak to, so without overthinking it, I went up to him, waited for a natural pause in their conversation,

“Hi, I’m Tyler. Are you the owner?” I asked him.

He looked me up and down like he wasn’t sure if I was good enough to even be talking to him. For a moment, the most intense anger went through me. It did me no good to get upset, but there was just something about this guy. Why couldn’t Dotty be here? She would know that I deserved a place. I felt low, practically begging this man for a chance.

“Sure do. I’m Bobby.”

“What happened to Dottie?”

“She died.” He said it like her death was funny to him, and I had to grit my teeth.

The bartender had walked away from the conversation, and I wondered how he felt about his boss.

“Do you think you have what it takes? What do you do, sing?” Bobby asked me.

I had to remind myself that it didn’t really matter I felt about the man. I needed to do more than just make money. I needed to create, I needed to be more than a small-town guy living in Winter Fall. I couldn’t just stay here for the rest of my life and be forgotten like everybody else. Deep down, I knew my destiny included something greater than that. Maybe it was just a hope, but it was a hope I couldn’t bury.

“Yes, sir, I do. Play the guitar too. I used to play here many years ago.”

“Well, let’s see what you got.”

“Excuse me?” I honestly didn’t think I’d heard him right. Did he really want me to interview for a gig like this? It was a blow to my ego.

“Yeah, you just came off the streets making all these claims. I don’t know you, and I bet that Jimmy doesn’t know you. If you are so good, play me a little tune that will make me want to let you play. This is the hottest spot in town, so I can’t just let anybody up on stage. You have to interview like everybody else. Think of me as your king. If you don’t entertain me, you won’t be playing. You make me happy, you’ll have a spot just like that. I am always looking for talent, but it has to be the right sort of talent. Has to actually be talent. Hell, some people think a lot of themselves, when maybe they shouldn’t.”

I nodded and gritted my teeth to keep from saying something stupid. I put my things down, got my guitar out, and headed towards the stage. It wasn’t the first time I had done this, I just hadn’t been expecting to entertain a king.

I decided I would do just that, making sure the recruiter would be able to replace me so I could get my life back on track. Winter Fall was the epitome of everything bad that had happened in my life. I just had to get a little money, replace a manager, and get back out of town.

I played for him, and when I was done, I thought he was going to tell me to f**k off, but he didn’t. He said I was talented and could have a Friday spot. It was music to my ears, even if I was embarrassed and feeling lower than I had in a while. I was going to make the most of this opportunity. I was supposed to be a star, and this was just one step in the right direction.

The only bad news about the gig was that I had to do all the promoting. Which was another kick in the teeth, really, but it was still a win and, damnit, I really needed a win.

After replaceing temporary accommodations at the bed and breakfast in town, I had a couple of days before my set, and the more people I could get to come in, the better. If they brought in the flyers I was handing out, I would get half of the door price. It was just the incentive I needed to get out there and start promoting. I didn’t mind selling myself if it meant more money and a step closer to getting back out of here again.

I set out for the main part of town. There were a few people at the grocery store, a few more at the post office, and even more at the tracker supply store. Half of the town had to go to that place to buy seeds, feed, grass, and dirt. When I saw how busy it was, I was inspired.

I gave out a few flyers before I almost ran right over a woman coming around the corner. She was shorter than me by a lot, with blonde hair that ran down her back. She was wearing jeans that were tight and frayed in the thighs, and a shirt with the logo of one of the local ranches was open at the neck, showing more than enough of her chest. I didn’t know who had to work with her, but I didn’t know if I should feel bad for them or envy them.

“What are you giving away?”

I shrugged. “Nothing much. I have a show coming up on Friday and I am trying to see if I can get anyone to come.”

She smiled, and my heart melted. “Are you any good?” she asked, those green eyes of hers trained on mine.

I almost told her that I had just came back from Nashville after not making it big time, but I wasn’t ready to be that honest. “Yeah, you should come by and see me.”

She looked away. “Would you even notice if I showed up?”

“I would”, I said, and started to move towards her.

“I have to go right now, boss is waiting for me, and he is something else when he is mad. I will be there this Friday, waiting to hear what you sound like.”

I believed her and I didn’t know why. “What’s your name?” I called out as she was leaving.

“Snow.”

That was a name I could remember. “I’ll be seeing you Snow.”

She smiled and was gone. I was still holding a thick stack of flyers, not even sure if I had given her one. It didn’t matter, as long as she came, I would be happy.