By the time lunch rolled around and he was back on schedule, August was in desperate need of a walk and some fresh air. He put on his coat, scarf, and leather gloves and made his way down the elevator and outside.
He headed toward the large park located a few blocks from his office, grabbing a delicious Korean wrap with fried chicken from a food truck on the way and eating it as he walked.
Meandering through the park, August made quick work of his wrap and wondered if he should give in to his need to move and go for a quick run. If he didn’t push himself, he wouldn’t sweat enough that he’d have to take a shower.
He decided to risk it and started jogging down the path.
He got quite a few looks – most people didn’t go jogging in business attire – but August was used to weird looks and well-practiced in ignoring them.
Jogging in the park wasn’t quite as good as going for a run in the woods, but it was still nice. If there was one good thing about winter, it was that the cold air made the city smell far less offensive than it did during summer. When he was in the park like this, with the trees all around him, he could almost forget that he was in the middle of a large city.
The background noise of honking cars, sirens and construction work disrupted the illusion, but not so much that August let it bother him.
The fact that he could go home to an apartment that had been soundproofed to werewolf standards made a big difference in his ability to deal with noise when he was away from home.
Feeling himself starting to get a little warm, August slowed down and stopped jogging. He took off his scarf and gloves and shoved them in his pocket, unzipping his coat down past his chest and letting the cold winter air cool him down.
A woman pushing an old-fashioned stroller nearly careened off the path ogling him, her face turning beet red as she glanced away and rushed past him.
August wished he could strip naked and go for a real run. Maybe, if Ryker had time, they could head up to the preserve later that night and get rid of some of their excess energy. He shot off a quick text to his mate suggesting it.
August was just putting his phone back in his pocket when he spotted a familiar figure coming toward him.
It was Steve, Ryker’s new best friend, and from the looks of it he was out for a jog. Unlike August, he was dressed for the occasion, looking annoyingly good in head-to-toe compression gear.
It was quite the look.
At least he was wearing an athletic cup, August noted, judging his fellow werewolf for putting himself on display. He wasn’t wearing any shorts, the smooth bulge of his athletic cup jutting out an obscene amount, the nylon and spandex fabric showing off every twitch of his powerful muscles.
When Ryker went jogging, he at least had the decency to wear shorts over his compression tights.
Then again, Ryker didn’t wear a cup, and the shorts didn’t do much to hide his very obvious bulge– which unlike Steve’s rounded mound – was very recognizably cock-shaped.
Steve was looking at him, a wary, not at all friendly expression on his face, and as he jogged closer, he slowed down to a walk.
August stood rooted to the spot, letting Steve approach him.
He’d tussled with Steve many times during full moons, but he’d never interacted with him in the city.
He hadn’t realized that Steve was several inches taller than him.
One more thing to the list of things that were irritating about the younger man.
“August.” Steve crossed his arms, his biceps pressing against his pecs in a clash of muscle, and furrowed his brow. “How are you?”
The contrast between the friendly question and Steve’s hostile body language was hilarious.
“Considering the fact that I’ve knotted your friend Dylan three times in the past week, I’d say I’m pretty good. How are you?”
August ducked just in time to miss Steve’s swing at his face, the other alpha’s roar of anger really quite impressive in its ferocity.
“Did you know he can put his feet behind his head?” August taunted, stepping closer and delivering an uppercut to Steve’s solar plexus. The blow sent Steve flying back, landing him on his ass. August smirked. “Like all the way back, with his knees under his shoulders and his ass just on display. You should have seen it.”
Steve jumped to his feet and charged, ducking his head and hitting August with his shoulders and knocking them both to the ground.
Ryker had described Steve as an easy take-down, but as August wrestled the taller man, it was a frustratingly even match.
Steve was strong, and he was obviously an experienced wrestler. It took August a good three minutes to get him pinned, by which time he’d torn both his shirt and pants and lost his jacket completely.
