The Mating Run by Leeka

Safe

So, here I am, watching Victor scratch his head in confusion, wondering out loud why his claiming bite didn’t work.

“Something’s not right.”

And honestly, I can’t help but laugh. It’s like watching a magician who messed up a trick, and now everyone is left wondering what went wrong. But in this case, the trick was supposed to be some mystical bond, and all I got was a painful reminder of my naivety.

He mutters something about it not working as expected, and Zeke, always the voice of reason, asks if Victor even bothered to read the pamphlet. I can’t contain my laughter at this point. The pamphlet, the one that probably no one reads until things go south.

Classic.

But then Zeke drops a bombshell. The trackers inside us aren’t just trackers- they’re pheromone inducers. And apparently, every single thing in the field was a pheromone inducer. I try to wrap my head around it.

I can’t decide whether to be relieved that there’s no mystical bond or irritated that Victor literally took a bite out of me. It’s absurd, and I find myself laughing again. Maybe it’s the sheer ridiculousness of the situation or the fact that life has a way of turning expectations into a chaotic mess.

Victor looks like he’s about to say something, but Zeke beats him to it.

“You’re a f**king idiot, that’s what you are.”

Zeke declares, and for a moment, I appreciate the simplicity of his words.

No sugarcoating, just a straightforward assessment of the situation.

Safe

I look at Zeke, and we share a moment of understanding. The absurdity of it all hangs in the air like a punchline to an inside joke.

Victor finally speaks, his voice a mixture of frustration and confusion.

“But the claiming bite is supposed to create a bond!”

He protests, as if the universe owes him an explanation. I roll my eyes. The universe doesn’t owe anyone anything, especially not an explanation for failed magical bonds.

Zeke shakes his head, a bemused smile on his face.

“Did you even read the pamphlet?”

He asks, his tone a mix of exasperation and amusement. It’s a rhetorical question at this point. Who reads the pamphlet until everything falls apart?

Zeke explains the intricacies of Hunters and Hiders, and how Victor’s claim was nothing more than a physical act with no mystical repercussions. I feel a strange mix of relief and irritation.

his expression a mix of

if the act of biting should have automatically triggered a cosmic connection. I can’t help but shake my head.

huge chunk of her flesh, Victor. That’s all you did. Congratulations, you

It’s a laughter that comes from the depths of my being, a release of pent–up tension and absurdity. Victor’s face

of laughter, realizing that in this moment,

weight of Victor’s failed attempt at claiming. It’s like a weight lifted off

feel a bit woozy. Zeke

says, his voice steady. “But not too hard.”

confusion etched

the growing sense of faintness. But Zeke doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stands up, his expression hardened, and

punches to Victor’s face. The sounds of impact echo in the air, sharp and jarring. Victor stumbles backward, his hand flying to his nose, blood trickling between his fingers. I blink, trying to make sense of the scene unfolding before me. Zeke,

his voice low and menacing. “Lucky that I have to

of her first.”

air, a palpable threat that adds another

strange mix of gratitude and

to me, his eyes softening as he sees my bewildered expression. “I’m here,

my skin as I press it onto the bleeding wound. The pain intensifies, but Zeke’s presence is a reassuring constant. I steal a glance at Victor, who’s still recovering from Zeke’s

care.

Safe

But then he returns with a water bottle, offering it to me.

of concern and determination. “We need to get you out of here,” he

around me blurs, edges fading into a fog of confusion. Zeke’s voice cuts through the

the disorienting swirl of sensations. “Come

like I’m sinking into a dark pool. The pain in my neck throbs, a persistent reminder of Victor’s reckless actions. Zeke’s hand is on my shoulder, a steadying presence in the midst of chaos. I want to ask him what’s happening, why there are growls and sirens echoing

with me, Alina,” Zeke’s voice is firm, a lifeline in the

and the growls intensify. It’s a cacophony

hear Victor scoff, his voice

time for dramatics,” he declares, dismissive and callous. “Just f**k off and leave me alone this time, you f**kers

to nod, but it feels like a heavy effort. The sirens, the growls, Victor’s dismissive words–they all swirl around me, a chaotic dance that

low growl that matches the ominous sounds in the distance. The world is dimming, the edges

cling to Zeke’s voice, the anchor that keeps me

melody that surrounds us. I want to ask Zeke what’s happening, why everything feels like it’s spiraling out of control, but the words remain trapped in the fog that envelops my mind.

It’s like a scent, a signal that cuts through the air and travels far. I’ve heard about certain animals being attracted to it, drawn to the metallic tang that hangs in the wind. And now, as I feel the warmth trickling down my

scan the surroundings like a hunter on high alert. We’re not alone. I know it. The forest seems to hold its breath, and I can’t shake the

tales of creatures lurking in the shadows, drawn to the scent of blood like moths to a flame. In those stories, the protagonist is warned not to bleed,