He went to stand in front of the TV.
“That works,” Dylan said. He climbed back on the bed, taking a seat in his nest of pillows up by the headboard.
“I’m going to take my clothes off so they don’t rip,” August said, stripping off his shirt and taking off his jeans. He kept his underwear on. They were the stretchy kind, so even if they tore a little, they should hold his package in place after he’d shifted.
“Ready?”
Dylan nodded.
“I’ll change back whenever you want me to. All you have to do is tell me you’ve had enough, or you can just shake your head. Okay?”
Dylan nodded again. “I’m ready.” He crossed his legs and sat upright, leaning forward and staring at August with fierce concentration.
August watched him for a second, making sure he wasn’t going to take back his request, and then turned his attention inward.
Changing into his alpha shift was as easy as breathing. All August had to do was reach for his wolf and let go. The change rippled outward from the center of his chest, a warm rush of feeling that tingled like electricity, the sensation zipping across his shoulders and down his arms, moving into the tips of his fingers and ricocheting back up to his chest, reaching his toes fast enough that he almost couldn’t tell which path the magic took.
It was different every time.
When they were younger, Ryker and August had discussed getting a high-end camera to film the change, to see if it really was as instant as it appeared to the naked eye. Ryker’s uncle had heard them and laughed at their idea. Apparently, it had already been done, and no one had managed to catch anything interesting.
August kept his body relaxed, conscious of Dylan watching him, spreading his feet a little further apart and letting his arms hang loosely by his side in an attempt to appear as non-threatening as possible.
Usually when August changed, he would spring into action immediately, energized and wanting to run or hunt or fight, but he was old enough that he didn’t have any trouble remaining calm and suppressing his instinct to move.
Dylan watched him, his breaths coming a little faster than they had before, and August had to resist the impulse to go to him and offer comfort.Hewas the thing that was making Dylan nervous, though his wolf struggled to let him accept the idea.
Before August could think of anything he could do to make Dylan less afraid, Dylan’s breathing calmed and he leaned forward. He moved his gaze up and down August’s body, taking him in. There was a second his attention stalled at August’s crotch, his eyes widening at the size of August’s bulge, but he didn’t let his gaze linger.
Instead it came to rest on August’s feet. August looked down, flexing his toes and bouncing on the balls of his feet.
His feet were the part of him that were least human when he changed. They were elongated, with canine, long-arched toes, and dagger sharp claws that would ruin the hardwood floors if he wasn’t careful.
“You ripped your briefs,” Dylan commented, breaking the silence and moving his gaze up to August’s face.
August looked at his underwear, and sure enough, the briefs had torn over his left thigh.
“I did,” he agreed, licking over his teeth and teasing his right canine. He reached down and adjusted his bulge, moving his cock so that it wouldn’t accidentally poke through the hole.
Dylan watched his hand with rapt attention.
“Do you want to come closer?” August asked, putting his hands behind his back and making sure to keep his body relaxed and unthreatening.
Dylan scooted down to the end of the bed, taking a seat at the end of the mattress and folding his hands over his lap. He looked up at August and bit his lip. “You’re very tall.”
August took a small step forward, forcing Dylan to crane his neck to maintain eye contact.
“I am,” he agreed. He held up his hand, palm facing out. “I’m bigger all over.”
Dylan took a deep breath and rose to his feet, crossing the short distance between them. August watched him approach, holding still and waiting for him to make the first move.
“Can I…?” Dylan lifted his hand and held it a few inches away from August’s palm, looking up at his face for permission to touch.
There was nothing nervous or scared in his expression.
“Of course,” August said, his voice rough with want.
Dylan shuddered at the rumbling quality of August’s voice, swallowing loudly before he pressed his hand against August’s palm.
