Logan's Rattler by A. Jarrett (best books for 20 year olds txt) 📕

Logan nodded and turned back around to grab two mugs. He filled them with the steaming hot liquid then led Finn to an empty table in the corner. They sipped their coffee in quiet for a few minutes.

Usually the silence was heaven sent for Logan, but at the moment it made him feel uncomfortable. He’d gladly welcome some noise.

“So, Finn, tell me a little about yourself.” Logan took a sip of his drink. “If you want to, that is. I don’t want to pry.”

Finn stared at his mate and contemplated what he could safely tell the man that wouldn’t unload the whole paranormal, snake-shifter issue. Taking a drink, he set the cup down. He thought best to go with the truth and just leave out a few minor details.

“You’re not prying at all. I’m from Wyoming. My family lived in a small town not far from Evanston called Campbell.”

“Wyoming? You a country boy, Finn?” Logan asked playfully.

“I guess you could say I used to be.” Finn rolled his mug between his hands. He hadn’t talked about his past in ages. It depressed him to think about his mom, dad, and his brother, Gavin.

Logan’s Rattler

27

They never questioned once why Finn never aged. It was the elephant in the room no one ever wanted to discuss. He had confessed to his brother the truth about what had happened, and he agreed it was best to keep it to himself.

Gavin had told him people would think him touched in the head if he went spouting off about witches and being able to turn into a snake of all things. He was grateful his brother never thought him to be crazy. Gavin had been his best friend until he died. One of the saddest days of Finn’s life.

Gavin had gotten married to a girl who lived on the farm next to theirs. They’d been in love ever since Finn could remember and were living a happy life together. Finn envied their happiness because as it was he didn’t know any other paranormals or the ways of their kind.

It also didn’t help to be a gay man in the early nineteen hundreds either.

Finn had worked the family’s ranch while Gavin took a job in the coal mines. Being a paranormal with superhuman strength benefitted him when it came to ranch work. He could do the job of ten men, so it didn’t bother him when Gavin chose to try something different with his life. There was money to be made in mining, and Finn wanted his brother to be happy.

Remembering when his brother died always sent a sharp pain through Finn’s heart, like a hot knife cutting through butter. Gavin had gone to work just like any other day, only that day he didn’t come home. There was a cave-in, and all twenty men on his brother’s crew perished.

Gavin’s loss was felt throughout the whole family. His brother’s wife couldn’t overcome her grief and took her own life. In a letter she wrote that she couldn’t go on without Gavin and that she was sorry.

Finn’s parents didn’t take it any better. They became closed off and never wanted Finn to leave the ranch for fear he would die, too.

At the time, Finn didn’t know the extent of his paranormal capabilities and did as they wished. It’s never easy to lose a child at

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AJ Jarrett

any age, and Finn didn’t want to add to the anguish they already were suffering.

He chose to keep his sorrow to himself. There was no need to burden others with his sadness. Gavin was Finn’s best friend and the only other person who knew his secrets. A piece of his soul died along with Gavin that day.

After his parents passed, Finn took off to travel the country. It wasn’t long before he met Ben and the other Warriors of the Light.

They took him in and explained to him the ways of their kind. He felt an abundance of relief when he found the warriors. They filled the hole left by his brother and answered the questions that plagued his mind.

“Finn, are you okay?” Logan asked.

Finn felt warm fingers wrap around his hand. He looked down to see Logan had a hold of his hand. Lifting his head to meet his mate’s questioning stare, he saw concern in the creases marring Logan’s face.

“I’m sorry.” He shook his head to clear his thoughts. “I just spaced out there for a minute. Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. It looked like you were lost in your memories.

Is everything all right?” Logan rubbed his thumb back and forth over Finn’s knuckles.

“Yes, I’m fine. Just thinking about