Page 40 of The Billionaire Alpha's Surprise Baby

“I don’t care,” I say, and I realize I mean it. “Ava is pregnant. We’re going to have a son, and I’ll be damned if I let him anywhere near the likes of you.” I toss a disgusted look at Hyacinthe before moving my gaze to my brothers. “I’m finished with this family.”

Anders lets out a low mocking chuckle. “It’s a cold world out there without a trust fund, little brother.”

I bristle at his condescending tone. Anders has always had a stick up his ass, and I can tell it grates on him that I’m his alpha.

“I don’t need anything this family has to offer.”

“Bullshit!” Chaston laughs. “You’ll have nothing. Well, except that ridiculous car of yours.” He turns to Ava with a faux-sympathetic expression. “I hope the two of you will be very happy together, scrubbing toilets for the rest of your lives.”

“Go to hell, Chaston,” I snarl, tightening my grip on Ava. “Father hasn’t disowned me yet, and I’m still alpha here.” I narrow my eyes, fully fed up with my siblings. “Get out.”

“What?” Anders looks at me as though I’ve lost my mind.

“You heard me,” I growl. “Get out — of my — house.”

My wolf must be showing again, because my siblings don’t argue. Hyacinthe stalks around the bar with bitter hatred in her eyes. Chaston just looks dumbstruck.

It’s strangely satisfying to watch my siblings file out of the house and climb into their respective cars. I wait until I hear the sound of their engines fading into the distance before I finally let myself breathe.

“You don’t have to do this,” Ava whispers, breaking the silence.

When she turns to face me, I suck in a breath. Tears are streaming down her cheeks, and she’s hugging her arms around herself.

“What are you talking about?” I ask, closing the distance between us and cupping her face in my hands.

She shrugs. “You don’t have to give up all of this just to be with me.”

“I’m not giving up anything,” I say, horrified that she feels guilty. I shake my head, searching for the right words. “You have given me everything.”

“But your family . . . your fortune.”

“What family?” I cry. “My siblings are nothing but money-grubbing vultures. Chaston and Anders only came because they were hoping this would piss off my father enough that he’d pass me over for CEO.”

“But . . . your inheritance.” The cutest little crease appears between her brows, and I know Ava’s not thinking about herself. She’s thinking about what I’m losing — what I might be sacrificing for her. “Won’t you miss . . . having money?”

“I have enough,” I tell her. And I mean it. The Roadster alone is worth nearly eight mil. That will be enough for us to live on until I figure out our next move.

“I’ll go get a job,” I tell her. Of course, I’ve never actually had a job, but I’m sure I can figure that out.

Ava is giving me a disbelieving look, as if she knows exactly what I’m thinking.

“I’ll work for one of my father’s competitors,” I add. “I’m sure they’d be interested to know the areas we’ve had on our radar for drilling. That’s not the point . . . I don’t care what I have to do. I’ll do whatever it takes for you and for him.”

“You say that now,” Ava mutters. “But what about in five years when —”

I cut her off with a kiss. My mate worries too much. Five years is nothing compared to forever, which is how long I plan on loving her.

I kiss her until I feel her body relax and scent the sweet musk of her arousal. I pull back to look her dead in the eyes, needing her to understand. “I love you, Ava. And I don’t need the Von Horton fortune to be happy. All I need is you.”

Epilogue

Ava

Two months later . . .

I have to stop Garrett from calling a fancy black-car service to drive us from the Copenhagen airport to the house where we’re staying. Even though everything I’ve read about the city says that the metro is the easiest and cheapest way to get around, he insists on calling a taxi since I’m seven months pregnant.

I know it’s going to take some convincing to get him to use public transit, but what can I say? Billionaire habits die hard.

---