His Dominant Omega by Jarrett, J. (best books for 20 year olds .TXT) 📗

best friend Devon’s father. After his death, Devon, as the oldest, took on the burden and responsibilities of running the company and the pack. The two other Carsten sons were still too young and dealing with the loss of their parents, so Josef had been more than happy to help Devon run the business. Devon had been there for him more times than he could count and now it was his turn to return the favor. Josef never knew his own father. He’d been gunned down by hunters when Josef was just a baby. His mother raised him with the help of the pack. Josef spent a lot of his time with Devon and Viktor while growing up. His mother was the office secretary for Carsten and Son’s, and he spent all his time hanging out with his friends.

It was right after Christmas fifteen years ago that his mother had passed. She had been out grocery shopping and on the way home hit a patch of ice. The car slid off the road and crashed into a tree. She had been killed instantly. Josef had only been fifteen at the time. Devon’s mom and dad took him in, no questions asked. And he had been with the Carsten family ever since then. When he lost them due to hunters, he felt the loss of his parents all over again. Because they never treated him like an outsider. They loved him, and he loved them, and when they were gone, it hurt just as much as if he had been their biological son.

Josef hustled down the small hill toward the office building. The sun rose on the horizon and warmth flooded down around him. The trees were green and leafy. Birds sang in the distance, and Josef couldn’t help but want to take off for an early morning run. He needed a good workout after listening to Devon and Aiden going at it all night.

The sound of feet hitting the ground in a run had Josef turning around. He stood waiting at the front office door to see who was running through the forest. A gray wolf raced across the ground and in midair shifted.

“Erik,” Josef called after the kid.

Erik jumped in surprise and spun around to face him. “Hey, Josef.” The young man gave a small, nervous wave. “What are you doing up so early?”

“I could be asking you the same thing, young man.” Josef stepped away from the door and walked over to Erik. “Have you been out all night?”

“Um.” Erik’s eyes fell to stare at the ground. He fidgeted with his hands, not looking up at Josef.

“Do I need to bring your brothers into this?”

Erik laughed. “They’re too busy to care about what I’m doing.”

“I’d bet you’re wrong in thinking that, kid.” He understood why Erik might come to that conclusion, seeing as his brothers were enjoying the pleasures of being mated.

“Whatever,” Erik said with a little more attitude than Josef liked.

“Excuse me?” Josef had been there when Erik had been born and helped raise the little shit. So for him to act so disrespectful to him or toward his brothers was unacceptable.

“Josef, I’m not saying they don’t love me, but they’re busy.” Erik shrugged. “I’m actually really happy for them. Now if we could only find you a mate, things would be perfect.” He gave Josef a big goofy smile.

“I bet. Now spill. Where have you been?”

“What does it matter?” Erik huffed. “School’s out. I don’t have a curfew in the summer, remember?”

The kid had him there, but the no curfew rule only applied if Erik stayed within their property lines. And he had a sinking feeling that Erik hadn’t been on pack lands until about few minutes ago when Josef saw him making a mad dash for the house.

“I’m sure you remember that only applies if you are on our land, not out about in the city, wolf boy. Now seriously, where were you last night?” He watched as Erik’s skin paled and he shifted from foot to foot. He knew he had been caught.

“Erik, I understand you’ve found your mate and want to be with him, but you can’t. You have to wait until you’re of legal age. It’s our law and the human law. I’ve met Brandon, and if there is one thing about that man it’s that he’s honorable. So I have to ask, what are you doing?”

“I know, but no one ever said I couldn’t go and watch him from a distance.” Erik’s chin started to tremble, and Josef’s heart broke for the kid. “I just want to be near him. I swear he doesn’t know.”

“Kiddo.” Josef pulled him into a hug. “I know this has to be hard on you, but you have to live your life and not think about him. I know that’s easier said than done, but you’re just hurting yourself by doing this.” He pulled back to look at Erik. “I won’t say anything to your brothers, but you’ve got to promise to knock this off. You have a year to still be a kid before you go mate crazy like your brothers. Enjoy this time.”

Erik wiped away the tears from his eyes. “I’m trying. It’s just really hard.” Erik started to laugh. “I mean really hard.”

Josef muffled his laugh as he picked up on what Erik meant. “I’ll take your word for it.” He ruffled Erik’s already-messy hair. “Now go get cleaned up. I have a guy coming about a job and he’ll be here any minute. We don’t need you scaring the poor guy away with your naked ass swaying in the wind.”

Erik started to laugh. He turned around and headed up the hill toward the house. Josef shook