Change of Heart

time I got out and staggered to my couch. I asked Crane what it looked like, and he said it looked like a bite from something big.
    "That's really descriptive. Thanks."
    "It looks bad, though; you must've bled a lot."
    "I feel like I did, but I was trying to think... oh, that's right."
    "What's right?"
    "He drank it."
    "What'd you say?"
    I smiled at Crane, because he looked horrified. "When a semel marks his reah, he drinks the blood from the wound."
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    "Like a vampire."
    "There's no such thing as vampires."
    "I dunno about that, 'cause from the looks of it, Logan drank a lot of your blood."
    "It wasn't that much. No more than I can heal."
    "Then heal it already—shift."
    But I was too tired; I yawned, instead. After a few minutes, I realized he was smiling at me.
    "What?"
    "Just funny, you with a mark you swore you'd never take and never even want."
    I flipped him off before I leaned back and closed my eyes.
    I must have dozed, because the sharp knock on the front door startled me. I didn't even have to ask who it was; his scent was imprinted on my brain even in so short a time.
    "Jin!"
    I yawned as Crane went to the door.
    "Open the goddamn door!"
    I was surprised that the roar hadn't simply split the door in two.
    "I'm coming," Crane yelled back as he opened it. He went mute when he was suddenly faced with the man. Logan's scowl was icy. "Sorry."
    Logan stood there silently, hands shoved into the pockets of his lined peacoat. He was wearing a heavy sweater and jeans; he had showered and changed, but it had been done quickly, his clothes thrown on. He'd been in a hurry to reach me. His hair was still wet. Standing behind him, still but menacing, was Yuri.
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    "What?"
    His eyes darkened to a deep, burnished gold, and his eyebrows furrowed as he walked into the apartment. "'What'?
    This is all you have to say to me?"
    "We were coming right back. We just had to get our stuff."
    Instantly his expression changed, like he was startled.
    "Which is exactly what I said." Yuri rolled his eyes, brushing by Logan to Crane. "Get your crap, kid, we're going back. Mrs. Church already got your room ready."
    He smiled at Yuri, shouldered his backpack, and told me he'd see me at home. He was explaining as they left how much he'd always hated the crappy little apartment. When Logan returned his eyes to me, his scowl returned.
    "You thought, what, that I ran off with Crane?"
    "His smell was on our bed." His voice was low and ominous.
    "Our bed?"
    "Yes, our bed," he almost snarled at me, and I could tell he had been in a rage, as it still lingered in his tone, in the set of his broad shoulders, and in the dark, violent gaze.
    I nodded. "So what?"
    "You left my shirt."
    "Because it's like wearing a tent." I chuckled, smiling at him, watching his eyes soften as he looked at me.
    Several minutes ticked by before he spoke. "I was jealous."
    "Don't ever be jealous of Crane. He's my friend—I've known him forever. We grew up together."
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    "There should never be a scent but yours or mine in our bed."
    "Fair enough," I agreed, because that was more than reasonable. "Until there's children."
    His jaw clenched, the muscles in his throat corded, and he nodded quickly. "Yes."
    "You do want children someday, don't you?"
    "Yes, do you?"
    "I do," I told him.
    We were silent for several minutes before he spoke.
    "This is fast for you, I know."
    "Yeah, it is, but I'm sure it's the same way for you."
    "I just want to figure everything out, and we can do that slowly, but I can't allow you to be away from me while we do that."
    "Meaning what?"
    "Meaning that you can have whatever time you need to get comfortable with the idea of being my mate, but you will do it while you sleep in my bed."
    I chuckled.
    "What?"
    "That makes no sense."
    "You're my mate. You live with me. End of story." He coughed. "Now, where's your stuff."
    I pointed to the backpack.
    "That's it?"
    "That's it."
    He nodded before he walked over and picked it up, turning to walk straight out the front door without another word. I 155
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    had changed into a sweater and had my laptop bag over my shoulder when he returned minutes later. I noticed that he was frowning.
    "What?"
    "How did you not see all those marks out there? It's a fuckin' mess."
    He sounded jealous again, and I smiled in spite of myself.
    "You got everything out of your