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

“So you think you’re a snake?” Logan’s voice came out shaky.

“I don’t think, I know. I’m a rattlesnake shifter. That means I can become my second nature, which is a rattlesnake.”

“Oh.” Logan’s eyes rounded to the size of saucers. Then out of the blue his mate started to laugh uncontrollably. “Right. You almost had me. Vampire? Shifters? Rattlesnakes? Witches?” Logan said between gulps of breath. “Did I fall down the motherfucking rabbit hole, or am I dreaming? Because no way is this true.”

Finn very slowly stood from the bed. Denial was a common reaction for a human to have when they found out their lover was not cut from the same cloth. He would just have to prove to Logan he was what he said. If not, his mate would just think he was insane.

Finn tugged his shirt up over his head and let it fall to the floor then he concentrated on shifting into his half-rattlesnake, half-human form. The sight of him like this could be scary to some people, especially his mate. He’d still have his arms and legs. The only difference was his skin would be covered in light-brown scales and his nose would elongate, giving the appearance of a rattlesnake’s head.

Unlike his paranormal counterpart the rattlesnake, Finn could see perfectly out of his eyes. He didn’t have to go by smell, body heat, or motion to see objects in front of him. His heightened senses did help him, but he didn’t have to rely on those alone. His forked tongue was like that of a rattler, long and split at the tip. He could flick it out and taste scents in the air.

A shimmering flickered across Finn’s skin, and he could feel himself changing. His glowing, tan skin bled into different shades of brown. Scales linked together, spreading over his body. As his nose grew, his hair receded until only a smooth head remained. He blinked his eyes, and his tongue came out to taste the air between him and his mate.

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He heard Logan’s quick inhale of air as he stared at Finn. Shock had his mate gaping at him like a person would do at an exhibit in the zoo.

“You weren’t lying,” Logan whispered.

Finn stepped closer to the bed and took a seat at Logan’s side.

“No, I wasn’t.” His voice had a slight hiss to it when he spoke.

Logan stared in awe at what he had become. But Finn felt safe saying his mate wasn’t afraid. Quite the opposite. Logan appeared to be intrigued by what Finn had become.

“I can’t believe what I’m seeing.” Logan hesitantly moved his hand forward and brought it up to stroke Finn’s cheek. “I should be frightened, but something in me is saying not to fear you”—Logan waved his hand around in front of him—“or any of this.”

Finn rubbed his nose into the palm of Logan’s hand. When he was in snake form like this, his skin became extremely sensitive. “It’s because we’re mates.” His tongue darted out to lick across the inside of Logan’s hand. Logan giggled from where Finn touched him.

“Mates?” Logan tilted his head to the side, his eyes burrowing into his. “What exactly does that mean?”

Shifting back into his human self, Finn proceeded to explain to Logan what being mated meant. To be soul mates bound together forever until death separated them. A powerful connection not meant to be taken lightly or to ever be broken, unconditional love with your best friend to last an eternity.

“Oh.” Logan’s mouth rounded as he said the word. Finn watched as emotions played across his mate’s face before he spoke again.

“That actually sounds really nice and sweet. But on the other hand, too good to be true. How can we be certain we won’t fall out of love?”

At the skepticism his mate spoke, Finn flinched as if he had been hit. But a part of him understood his mate’s misgivings. Logan had lost his family at an early age, and the only constant in his life had

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been his best friend, Leo. Finn couldn’t fault his mate for feeling wary about the situation thrown at him.

“I guess nothing is ever guaranteed in life, especially since you’re mated to a warrior and I put myself at risk with every mission I take.”

He tried to soothe his mate’s doubts by hiding behind a smile. “But I know people who have been