I was starting to get anxious. I still hadn't heard back from Adam. I really needed to know about these investors. The website was all ready to go. All I needed were my ad campaign investors.

I tapped at the digital tablet sitting in front of me and brought up the website. The test site looked great. I couldn't wait for it to go live. Beyond Rudy and our baby, this meant more to me than anything in the world. I really wanted this business to succeed. I'd never be happy in the family's construction business. I was a true alpha and I wanted to build and lead my own business. I wanted to break away on my own and prove myself. To my father, my brothers, and every shifter in Stelline.

I tapped my fingers on my desktop anxiously and checked my phone one more time just in case I missed a call or a text. Nothing.

Rudy was at work, so I couldn't go talk to him, and I was so anxious about getting the call that I didn't want to go work out my frustrations in the gym just in case I missed it. So, I sat and stared out of the windows of my office and obsessively checked my email, then my text, then my email again. Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore. I pushed away from my desk and headed to the kitchen to see if I could find something to eat.

Just then, I heard my phone bleeping from the other room. I ran for my office and skidded toward my desk. I stopped and took a deep breath before I tapped at the phone to answer it.

“Hello,” I said. “Adam, hi. Yes, it's great to hear from you. I've been waiting for your call.”

I gripped the edges of my desk and leaned over the phone.

“You have? That's fantastic. No, I'm so excited, yes. I can't wait to see you. Why don't you come down—oh, that would be fantastic. Yes, I'll be here. Just come with the paperwork and we'll get everything signed and squared away. I'm so excited to get this website launched. Thank you so much. I'll see you soon.”

I wasn’t even sure the phone had hung up before I was jumping up and down and dancing around my apartment. It was really happening. It was all really happening. My website was going to be live soon, I had my investors, I didn't have to worry about hitting up my father for the ad money, Rudy was going to have my baby, and if I had my way, he'd be my legally bound mate soon. Not just a claiming mark, but the license to make him a true Marks.

It was just a few hours later and Adam had come and gone. We'd gone over all the paperwork, covered all the details, and signed on the dotted line. Adam was now my partner and new investor. I sifted through the papers on my desk one more time and then made digital copies and stored them on my laptop. Now there was only one thing left to do—tell my father.

Just thinking about telling my father caused such a build-up of anxiety in my gut that I had to go for a run before I could face him. I headed for the gym and took a long run and then a hot steam to try to work out my nervousness. I didn't think it worked. After I got dressed, I took my car to the construction office. I drove it in manual mode to give my hands and my mind something to concentrate on, so I didn't think about the impending meeting with my father.

I was fidgety, and I was never fidgety. I never realized exactly how nervous my father made me. But it was time for me to step up. Time for me to let my alpha out. This was what I wanted. This was for my family. For myself, Rudy, and the baby.

Amy greeted me at the reception desk, but I waved her way before she could ask if I wanted anything. I guessed she could tell by the look on my face that I was in no mood for any pleasantries today, because she dropped back into her seat without a word and started typing again. I didn't even bother stopping by my own office. I got the feeling that in the next few minutes I wasn’t even going to have an office in this building anymore. And that was fine with me. That was the way I wanted it.

I didn't even bother knocking on my father's door. I just pushed it up and stepped into his office. He looked up, his face surprised. I didn't think anybody had ever dared enter his office without knocking first.

“Jason, what are you doing here? Is something wrong? Is Rudy okay? Your mother? Your brothers?”

“We have something that we need to discuss,” I said to him. “I don't think you're going to like it but I'm going to say it anyway.”

He pushed back from his enormous mahogany desk and came around. His arms were crossed over his chest and his eyes were narrowed. “Go ahead and spit it out.”

“I'm leaving the company.”

“Is this about that business you were talking about? Some sort of website. I don't think this is the best idea.” My father’s tone was gruff and I could see he was trying to control his anger. He’d been in charge—been alpha of this family—for so long that the idea of someone going against his wishes was unthinkable.

“No, this is the best idea for me and for my family. I have investors and the website is ready to go live. I’m doing this. Today.”

“Don't be ridiculous,” he said. “You belong here. You belong in this family, working for this business. There’s nowhere else for you, son. This is what you were raised for.”

“This is not where I belong, or where I want to be. I've always wanted to run my own business. It's only right for an alpha like me. I can't follow in your footsteps. I can't be what you want me to be. I have to be my own man and take care of my own family.” I took a step toward my father. “I love you, Dad, but I’m not cut out for this. I know what my passion is, and I’m going to take this chance and run with it. And frankly, there’s not much you can do to stop me.”

“That's what you really think? I could cut you off, take the Marks backing from you.”

That hurt. It cut me to the bone to think my father could be so cruel, and all because I didn’t want to follow the path he’d set out for me. But I wasn’t backing down. Not this time.

“That's exactly what I think. Cut me off if you want. I’ll survive. And I think you need to let Ollie take over. He's the one who’s better suited for this job. And he's the only one of us who actually wants it. You need to look past what you think Ollie is like and see what he really is. Forget about the things he did as a teenager. He's smart—brilliant in fact, especially with numbers—and he knows this business inside and out. If you give him a chance, I know he could prove to you that he's the one that really needs to take over.”

“I don't know what's going on lately,” my father said. “You boys are growing up, I guess. Turning into real men. I suppose I should be proud of the fact that you're getting more dominant. Standing up to me shows some real balls,” he laughed. “Fine. Start your business, be your own man, prove to me you are what you say you are. Prove that you’re an alpha. And I'll give Ollie a chance.”

“Just like that?” I asked. I could hardly believe it.

“Just like that,” he said. “But don't come crawling to me if it all goes south. After all, I won't be the head of this company much longer. You'll have to beg Ollie for a job.”

“I have no problem with that. And if it doesn't work out, I'll come crawling back with my tail between my legs. I'll do whatever I have to do to take care of my family.”

My father walked over and pulled me into a rough hug.

“Now that's a true alpha. Let’s have a drink.”

I could hardly believe it as I left the office. I stopped by my old office, packed up a few things, and dropped them off at the reception desk for Amy to ship to my apartment. This would be the last time I came into this construction office as a family employee.

I was floating. This felt almost as good as when I found out Rudy was pregnant. I didn't even bother taking the car, I was so full of energy and happiness. I sent the car home and started the walk to my apartment.

I thought about what I was going to tell Rudy when he got home. He'd be so happy to hear it. And I thought it was time he moved in with me. In fact, I was going to insist. Soon.

I passed an ice cream shop just a few blocks from my apartment. It made me stop. I thought about how Rudy told me he’d never really had very much ice cream growing up. Just some cheap stuff that the orphanage had occasionally managed to get the kids for a small treat in the summertime or the occasional birthday celebration. He said it wasn't really that good.

I went inside the shop. Its pink and white striped walls and little gold chairs and tables were adorable. I'd bring Rudy back here one day. But for now, I was going to bring him home ice cream. I approached the counter and studied all the ice creams under the glass countertop. They all looked so delicious and silky that I got four separate pints of different flavors. I'd take them all home and Rudy and I would have an ice cream celebration tonight.

“You aren’t kidding? You really quit the family business?” Rudy’s jaw dropped open in shock. “Are you sure that’s the right thing to do?”

“It’s absolutely the right thing to do. Construction and development aren’t where my passions lie, baby. I need to help people. I want other shifters to have what I have with you. That’s the entire purpose of this website. And besides, I can do most of my work at home, so I’ll be able to help you when the baby comes.”

Rudy’s face split in a grin. “Okay, you’ve sold me.” He flew at me, wrapping his arms around my neck and kissing me firmly and sweetly. This one moment had made everything worth it.

“Hey, what’s in the bag?” He’d finally spotted the carrier bag from the ice cream shop.

“Sweet treats for you,” I said. Rudy licked his lips and I teased him by holding the bag just out of his reach.

“Like what?” He tried to snatch at the bag.

“Like mint chocolate chip. And maybe some caramel mocha.”

“Oh, give me!” Rudy tugged on my arm.

“Marshmallow chocolate chip.”

He jumped higher.

“Red velvet cheesecake.”

He stopped jumping and his face pulled into a mock snarl. “That’s it, mister. You’ve asked for it.”

He jumped at me again but instead of claws and snarling, he came at me with strokes and purrs. His hand cupped my cock and his teeth nipped at my collarbone.

“Give me that ice cream and I’ll eat it off your dick,” he said against my throat.

“Deal.” I hauled him up by the waist and marched him to the bedroom, ice cream swinging from one arm and my sexy, pregnant mate from the other. This had just turned into one of the best days of my life.