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.

looks at me, his expression a mix

should have automatically triggered a cosmic connection. I can’t help but shake my head. The simplicity of his logic is almost endearing, in a comically clueless

hold back. “You bit a huge chunk of her flesh, Victor. That’s all you

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

of laughter, realizing that in

and magical connections. Liberated from the weight of Victor’s failed attempt at claiming. It’s

my neck, and I feel a bit woozy. Zeke tears a

pressing on it,” he says, his voice steady.

glance at him, confusion etched on

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

Zeke delivers two swift 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

voice low and menacing. “Lucky that

care of her first.”

the air, a palpable threat that adds another layer of tension. to the already

a strange mix of

his eyes softening as he sees my bewildered expression. “I’m here, Alina. What do you need?”

Zeke’s presence is a reassuring constant. I steal a glance at Victor, who’s still recovering from Zeke’s punches. He’s groaning in pain, crawling away from us. I don’t

care.

Safe

But then he returns with a water bottle, offering

me, his eyes a mix of concern and determination. “We need to get you out of here,” he says, his tone leaving no room

into a fog of confusion. Zeke’s voice cuts through the haze, urgent

words a lifeline in the disorienting swirl of sensations. “Come on, I need

hand is on my shoulder, a steadying presence in the midst of chaos. I want to ask him what’s happening, why

firm, a lifeline in the growing storm. I blink, struggling to keep my eyes open.

intensify. It’s

his voice a grating interruption.

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

I try 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 threatens to pull me under.

hear Zeke mutter something, a low growl that matches the ominous sounds in the distance. The world is dimming, the edges of consciousness slipping away like

But i cling to Zeke’s voice, the

growls grow louder, more menacing, and the sirens intensify. It’s like a symphony of chaos, each note playing a part in the disorienting melody that surrounds us. I want to ask Zeke what’s happening, why

that hangs in the wind. And now, as

We’re not alone. I know it. The forest

the shadows, drawn to the scent of blood like moths to a flame.