10. Chapter TenRORY
Chapter Ten
RORY
I turned away from it all. Away from Mina’s farmhouse, away from her warmth, her smile, her goddamn hope. My feet hammered the dirt, each step carrying me further from what I craved but couldn’t grasp. Asshole. Idiot. Bastard. The words ricocheted in my skull, matching my frenzied pace. I let out a guttural growl, raw and primal, as if I could scare off my own self-loathing.
The woods swallowed me whole, and I charged in like a madman. Twigs snapped against my skin, each sting a welcome distraction. Anything to numb the fucking ache inside. She deserved better. A piece of shit like me would just ruin her life. Then Mina’s face, all sunshine and softness, hit me like a sucker punch. I tripped, hands clawing at rough bark to keep from eating dirt.
“ Fuck! ” I slammed my fist into the tree, over and over, until blood slicked my knuckles. The throb in my hand drowned out thoughts of her. I couldn’t go there. Not now. Never.
I pushed deeper into the mountains, ignoring the biting cold. A twig snapped, and I froze, my body tensing on instinct. Just the wind. I pressed on, ducking branches and sidestepping loose rocks. Snow-capped mountains came into view, stark against the night sky.
This was where I belonged. In this godforsaken wasteland, as cold and empty as my own damn soul.
But Mina’s face kept invading my thoughts. Her smile, her eyes... the way she looked at me like I was worth a damn.
I stopped at the edge of a cliff, staring down at the valley. Maple Ridge’s lights glittered far below. Somewhere down there was Mina’s farmhouse. That’s when the truth hit me. I’d left my heart behind, and no amount of distance could change that simple, damning fact.
A howl pierced the night.
The cabin was close. Just a little further. Moonlight broke through the trees, bathing everything in silver.
My skin prickled. “No,” I growled, but it came out as a strangled gobble. Pain ripped through me, bones cracking and reshaping. I fell to my knees, body contorting. Feathers erupted from my skin in a rush. Cursed. Still a goddamn turkey. Mina’s acceptance wasn’t enough. No, I wasn’t enough. Another twig snapped nearby. My instincts roared with danger. I whirled around and spotted yellow eyes that gleamed in the darkness.
Fuck.
I bolted, wings spread, talons pounding the forest floor. Snarls erupted behind me as the coyotes gave chase. Branches whipped past, leaves a blur. A snap of jaws, too close. I veered left, diving through dense underbrush. Thorns tore at my feathers, but I pushed on. The coyotes’ panting grew louder, hungrier.
A massive log blocked my path. I launched myself skyward, wings thrashing the air. For a split second, I thought I’d made it. Then pain exploded across my back. I spiraled down, face-planting into the forest floor. Leaves and dirt clogged my beak as I sputtered, struggling to right myself. Before I could get my bearings, a weight slammed into me. Razor-sharp teeth snapped shut, barely missing my head. The coyote’s rancid breath washed over me as I stared into its hungry eyes.
“ Get away from him, you mangy mutt! ”
A branch whooshed through the air, connecting with the coyote’s skull with a sickening crack. The beast yelped and staggered back. I blinked, certain I was hallucinating.
But there she stood. Mina. Her hair wild, chest heaving, wielding that makeshift club like a baseball bat.
“Back off from my turkey!” She swung at another coyote that lunged, and it fell back with a snarl. The pack circled warily, sizing up this new threat.
I gaped at her, my bird brain struggling to process. She’d followed me. She was here. Defending me. Another attacked from behind. I screeched, launching myself at its face. My talons raked fur. The coyote howled, then turned back into the forest. One of the remaining coyotes lunged, jaws snapping. Mina barely dodged, but the force sent her stumbling. She hit the ground hard, gasping.
Something inside me snapped.
With an enraged gobble, I launched myself at it. Wings flapping, I pecked and clawed, my spurs finding their mark. The coyote yelped, running away.
The largest coyote locked eyes with us. A low growl rumbled from its throat.
Mina didn’t flinch. “Try it,” she hissed.
It snarled and turned tail, melting back into the shadows.
Her shoulders sagged. The branch slipped from her fingers. She stumbled, caught herself against a tree. “Rory,” she said, sliding to the ground. “You stubborn gobbler.”
I rushed to her side, clucking like a worried mother hen. Mina was banged up badly. Blood oozed from her arm; legs all scratched to hell. And for what? My sorry feathered ass.
She reached out, stroking my head. “I couldn’t let you go,” she said softly. “Not like that.”
I pressed my beak against her palm, wishing I could tell her how much of an idiot I’d been. All I managed was a gobble. Her fingers gently probed the gash on my back. I flinched, more from the tenderness than pain.
“What were you thinking, taking off like that?”
I couldn’t look at her. Shame isn’t an impressive look on a turkey.
Mina struggled to her feet, swaying slightly. “We need to get out of here before those coyotes come back. It’s rare to see them hunting in a pack like wolves.”
Those were my thoughts exactly. I tugged at her jeans with my beak, then pointed my head down the path. She stared at me, so I did it again, more insistently.
“You... want me to follow you?”
I nodded vigorously.
“Okay, right behind you.”
The trek seemed endless. Every few steps, I’d crane my neck back, making sure Mina kept pace. Her breathing grew labored. The trees thinned, revealing a small clearing. My cabin looked like it had gone ten rounds with Mother Nature and lost, but it was still standing. Weathered logs, a chimney, and a porch that had seen better days.
For years, it had been my refuge. A place to hide from the world. Just me, the woods, and the occasional hunting prey that crossed my path. Now, with Mina beside me, it felt different. Like coming home for the first time.
Mina’s laugh was breathless. “Is this your mountain hideout?”
I clucked, impatient, and pecked at a large rock beside the porch.
“What is it?”
Come on, sweetheart. Figure it out. I pecked again, more insistently.
Her eyes grew wide. She kneeled, wincing with pain, and groped around the rock. Her fingers located the notch, and Mina extracted the spare key. “Got it. Let’s go inside.”
We made our way to the porch. I watched as Mina fumbled with the key. The lock clicked, and she pushed the door open with a creak. I scurried inside, desperate to get her out of the cold.
The cabin was a mess. Dust coated every surface, and cobwebs hung in the corners. Mina stumbled to the worn couch, collapsing onto it with a groan. I clucked anxiously, wishing I could do more than watch her suffer.
“I’m okay,” she murmured, but her pale face said otherwise.
My turkey brain worked overtime as I walked back and forth. First aid kit. Where the hell did I keep it?
“God.” Her eyes fluttered closed. “What a night.”
I clucked softly, nudging her leg with my beak. She needed first aid, but I was useless like this. The night crawled by. Every time Mina shifted or made a sound, I was at her side in an instant.
The eastern sky lightened. I felt the familiar tingle in my feathers, the ache in my bones. The transformation hit like a freight train. I gritted my teeth, stifling a groan as my body twisted and reshaped. Feathers melted away, replaced by skin. In moments, I was human again, standing buck naked on the cabin floor.
I scrambled to grab a threadbare blanket to wrap around my waist. Mina stirred on the couch, her eyes fluttering open.
“Rory?” she mumbled, still half-asleep.
“I’m here.” I kneeled beside her, brushing the hair from her face. “How are you feeling?”
She tried to sit up and winced. “Like I went ten rounds with a grizzly.”
“Stay still. Let me take care of you.”
I found the first aid kit under the sink, covered in dust but intact. While I cleaned and bandaged her wounds, Mina watched me with those doe eyes that saw right through me.
“You’re you again.”
“Barely. Grit your teeth, sweetheart. This might sting,” I said, cleaning the wound on her thigh.
Mina hissed but didn’t pull away. Her eyes never left my face as I worked.
“Why’d you follow me?” I said.
“You know why.”
I knew. And it scared the shit out of me. “You could’ve been killed,” I growled.
“Yeah, well, so could you, grumpy.” She took my face in her hands, forcing me to meet her gaze. “I wasn’t about to sit around knitting while you got yourself eaten.” She paused, her expression softening slightly. “Now it’s my turn. Why’d you run?”
I focused on the gash, wrapping it methodically. “Take your pick,” I muttered. “Idiot, bastard, asshole. All the above.”
Mina’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not an answer. Why did you leave?”
I exhaled sharply, meeting her gaze. “Because this?” I gestured between us. “It’s a disaster waiting to happen. I turn into a fucking turkey. You deserve better than... whatever the hell I am.”
“Oh, for God’s sake. I’m a big girl. I can decide what I deserve.”
“Yeah? And what happens when you realize you’ve tied yourself to a man who spends half his time gobbling and strutting around?”
“Well, at least I’ll always have fresh eggs for breakfast.”
I snorted despite myself. “You know for a fact Tom’s don’t lay eggs and this isn’t a joke.”
“No,” she said softly. “It’s not. But what we have isn’t as scary as you think, either.”
“Sweetheart,” I started, my voice rough. “I’m not—”
“If you say you’re not good enough one more time, I swear I’ll whack you with a branch.”
A choked laugh escaped me. “You’re something else, you know that?”
She grinned, then winced as she shifted position. “So, I’ve been told.”
I reached out, my hand hovering over her shoulder, unsure if I should pull her into an embrace or just let her rest. She decided for me, leaning into my chest with a soft sigh. I wrapped my arms around her, careful not to aggravate her injuries. The warmth of her body against mine felt like coming home.
“You’re an idiot,” she mumbled into my chest.
“I know.”
“But you’re my idiot.”
My chest tightened. “You’re too good for me.”
Her finger on my lips silenced me. “Too late. I’m not going anywhere because you’re the man I love.”
“You can’t mean that.”
“I do,” she insisted. “I love you. Turkey or man, grumpy or stubborn. All of you.”
I stared at her, searching for any hint of doubt or pity. There was none. Part of me wanted to protect her from the mess that was my life. But a stronger part, the part that ached for her touch, refused to let go.
Mine.
Fuck it. I’m done fighting this.
With a growl, I crushed my lips against hers. My hands gripped her face, angling her head so I could deepen the kiss. I couldn’t hold back anymore. All the pent-up desire and need I’d been too chickenshit to voice came pouring out in that moment. The kiss was messy, desperate. She moaned into my mouth, a sound that went straight to my cock. Fuck, I needed to hear that sound again. I nipped at her lower lip before trailing kisses down her jawline and neck. She arched her back, pressing her breasts against my chest as I sucked and bit at the sensitive flesh of her collarbone.
When we finally broke apart, both breathless, I rested my forehead against hers. “Last chance. Are you sure?”
Her lips curved into a smile. “I’ve been sure for a long time.”
That was all I needed. Because nothing mattered now except showing this woman exactly how much she meant to me, both inside and out. I kissed her neck, her collarbone, tasting the salt of her skin. Her lips found mine again, urgent and demanding. My hands slid over her body, exploring every curve. She arched into me, a soft moan escaping her lips.
I pulled her shirt over her head, then unhooked her bra with a practiced flick. She was fucking beautiful. Lowering my mouth to her nipple, I flicked it with my tongue. She gasped and arched into me, her hands digging into my hair. I sucked gently, then harder, switching to the other breast and giving it the same attention.
“Rory,” she moaned, and it nearly undid me.
I slid my hands down her sides, feeling every curve, every inch of her skin. My fingers found the waistband of her jeans, and I unbuttoned them with a swift tug.
“Wait!” She tried to cover herself up with her hands. “Don’t look. I’m not wearing anything pretty.”
I glimpsed plain blue cotton panties before her hands blocked my view. A sheepish look crossed her face.
“After everything tonight, you’re worried about your underwear?”
She swatted my arm. “Don’t laugh, you jerk.”
My eyes raked over her body. I leaned in close, my breath hot on her ear. “You could wear a paper bag and you’d still be fucking sexy to me.”
“Smooth talker.”
With a growl low in my throat, I lifted her in my arms, her legs wrapping around me. She kicked off her shoes as I carried her to the back bedroom. The sheets were a mess, tangled like my thoughts, but I didn’t give a damn. All that mattered was Mina in my arms, her breath hot on my neck. I laid her on the bed, drinking in the sight of her.
My cock strained with a need so intense it was almost painful. I wanted to mark her, to possess her completely, every inch of her becoming mine. I trailed a path from her stomach up to her heaving chest, teasing her erect nipples with my teeth. Unable to hold back, I crushed my mouth against hers. “I’m done being a useless fuck,” I growled against her lips, my cock grinded against her as she whimpered beneath me. “You deserve better than that. I’m going to make it up to you, sweetheart.”
“You don’t need to. I’m not some damsel in distress.”
“Never said you were. But I’d be a shit boyfriend if I didn’t have your back.”
She smiled. “Boyfriend, huh?”
“Hell, I figure if you’re crazy enough to chase a turkey through coyote-infested woods, we’re probably past the ‘ just friends ’ stage.”
“Fair point, but I’m serious. You don’t need to protect me,” she said, pressing her body against mine. “I’m not some fragile little thing.”
“I know you’re not, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to take care of you.”
I slid my hands down, hooking my fingers in the waistband of her panties. With agonizing slowness, I peeled them down her legs, drinking in every inch of newly exposed skin. She squirmed beneath me, her cheeks flushed.
“No staring, remember?” she mumbled.
I tossed the panties aside. “Not a chance. You’re too damn beautiful.”
She spread her legs, inviting me in. But I’m not rushing this. Not after waiting so long. I moved lower, kissing her thighs and breathing in her scent. With a low growl, I buried my face in her pussy, licking a long stripe up her center. Mina cried out, her hips bucking against my face. I held her steady, my tongue circling her clit before dipping inside. She tasted like heaven and sin rolled into one. Her fingers tangled in my hair as I licked and teased, savoring each sound she made.
Her thighs trembled around my head as I slid two thick fingers into her soaked pussy, curling them upwards to hit that sweet spot inside her. She’s so tight and hot around my fingers, it feels fucking perfect. I rubbed faster circles, this time using my thumb, and I feel a gush of wet. She gasped and moaned, her body tensing before she exploded in a wave of shudders and gasps. Her juices coated my fingers as I pulled them out, bringing them to my mouth.
I climbed back up to kiss her deeply, our tongues dancing together as she tasted herself on my lips. Her nails dug into my chest as her hands roamed down to my aching cock, stroking me through the blanket with a hunger that made me groan. My palm slid back down between her thighs.
“Fuck, sweetheart,” I growled into her ear before nipping at her lobe. “You’re so wet for me.”
She moaned in response, grinding herself against me as she tried to relieve the ache between her legs. I pushed her down onto the bed roughly, pinning her wrists above her head with one hand while using the other to tear away the blanket around my waist. My fat cock sprang free, throbbing with need as she looked at it, then up at me with wide eyes.
“Shit...” I muttered, scanning the room. “Where the hell did I put them?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Been a while since I needed rubbers. Might be past their expiration date by now.”
“That’s okay. You don’t need to stop.”
“Look, I’m not trying to saddle you with turkey babies, alright?”
“No, I mean... I’ve been on the pill for ages.”
My nostrils flare. I reached down between us to position my crown at her entrance before slamming into her with one swift motion. She cried out in pleasure as I filled her completely. Savage instinct rushes through my blood as I drive myself deeper inside her. Tight, wet heat enveloped my cock as I pounded deeper. I wanted to savor every moment, but my prick had other ideas. Primal need took over as I hammered into her relentlessly.
“Fuck, you feel amazing,” I moaned.
Mina wrapped her legs around my waist, urging me deeper. “Don’t stop... it feels so good.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. I picked up the pace, thrusting harder and faster. The bed creaked beneath us as I slammed into her. Mina met me thrust for thrust, her nails raking down my back. The slight pain only spurred me on, hiking her leg higher on my hip to drive even deeper. The new angle had her crying out with each thrust. I could feel her walls fluttering around me.
“That’s it, sweetheart,” I grunted. “Come for me.”
My thumb found her clit in the space between us, rubbing tight circles. Mina’s back bowed as she came with a strangled cry, her pussy clenching around my cock. The sensation pushed me over the edge. With a final brutal thrust, I buried myself to the hilt as wave after wave of pleasure rolled through me as I emptied myself inside her.
I spun her around and put my back to the bed. She collapsed on top of me, both of us panting heavily. We’re both going to be hurting like crazy tomorrow.
Something twitched.
I tried to pull out, but my cock refused to budge.
“Rory?” Mina’s voice held a note of confusion. “Are you... stuck?”
“Well, hell,” I growled, realization dawning. “It’s a knot.”
Her eyes grew wide. “A what?”
“My cock. It’s swollen at the base. We’re locked together.”
She fidgeted about, gasping as the movement tugged at where we were joined. “Is this normal for you?”
I barked out a harsh laugh. “Normal? Sweetheart, nothing about me is normal. But this? This is new.”
“Does it hurt?”
“No,” I said, my voice rough. “It feels fucking incredible. You?”
A blush crept across her cheeks. “ Ah , it’s... it’s intense.”
Her tight walls clenched around my swollen cock, squeezing every drop from me. I let out a guttural groan, my hips bucking uncontrollably. Rational thoughts flew out the window as raw pleasure rushed through my veins. My cock throbbed, expanding even more at the base. A guttural growl rumbled from my throat. I’m unable to stop my frantic thrusting.
Mina gasped, her nails digging into my shoulders. “ Ah , so good! ”
My hips snapped forward with bruising force as the knot swelled to its full size, locking us tighter together. The intense revving made her pussy clench down with pressure, sending shockwaves of pleasure through my entire body. “Goddamn. I can’t stop.”
“No, give me more,” she moaned. “Keep going!”
With a grunt, I gripped her hips and yanked her down. She gasped as she sank further, taking my swollen knot to the hilt. Her eyes fluttered shut, mouth falling open in a silent moan.
“ Fuck ,” I hissed through clenched teeth.
Mina’s hips rolled in slow circles, drawing a growl from deep in my chest. Her fingers splayed across my abs as she found her rhythm, riding me with abandon. She’s beautiful. So fucking beautiful, and she’s mine. All mine . My gums tingled, teeth sharpening to points as I rose and nuzzled her neck. She settled on my lap as I held her tight. The scent of her arousal drove me wild. I couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Rory,” she breathed, “What are you doing?”
I answered by sinking my fangs into the soft curve where her neck met her shoulder. Mina cried out, her inner walls clamping down. My knot pulsed, sending vibrations through us both. The bed frame shook from the intensity.
“Marking you as mine ,” I growled, voice barely human. I lapped at the mark, soothing the sting.
Mina’s nails raked down my back as she rode out her release. “Yours,” she whimpered. “Always yours.”
Her body seized around me, sending her over the edge again. She threw her head back as an orgasm ripped through her. The intensity of it made her whole-body shake, and her nails dug crescents into my shoulders.
The sight of her in that moment, completely undone, pushed me to the brink. My knot swelled again, stretching her beyond her limits. I can feel every flutter of her walls, every throb of her pussy surging through our locked bodies.
“Fucking hell,” I growled. “I’m going to fill you up again.”
She bit her lip, eyes half-lidded and dazed. “Oh God, yes .”
With a hard thrust, I emptied myself into her, hot and thick. Each spurt sends a jolt through my body, a lightning strike of pleasure that leaves me breathless. We’re so tightly bound that I can feel my seed mixing with her, the warmth spreading between us. I collapsed on my back when it finally stopped, so she didn’t have to take all my weight.
But I’m still inside. My knot hasn’t deflated yet. We lay there in comfortable silence, the occasional tremor rippling through us.
My fingers tangled in her hair. How the hell did I get so lucky?
“So,” Mina said after a while, propping her chin on my chest to look at me. “Is this going to be a regular thing now? The whole... you know?”
“Sweetheart, your guess is as good as mine. This wasn’t exactly covered in health class.”
She giggled. “Well, I guess we’ll just have to do more... research.”
“I like the way you think,” I growled playfully, nipping at her ear.
We were locked together, with neither of us wanting the moment to end. I’d claimed her, marked her as my mate. There was no going back now. Whatever I was—man, turkey, or something in between—Mina had accepted all of me. And I’d spend the rest of my days making sure she never regretted it.