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.

me, his expression a

of biting should have automatically triggered a cosmic connection. I can’t help but shake my head. The simplicity

her flesh, Victor. That’s all you did. Congratulations, you played yourself.”

Victor’s face contorts with a mix of embarrassment

of laughter, realizing that in

from the weight of Victor’s

Zeke tears a piece of his

pressing on it,” he says, his voice steady. “But not too hard.”

him, confusion etched on my face.

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

stumbles backward, his hand flying to his nose,

and menacing.

care of her

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

feel a strange mix of gratitude

he sees my bewildered expression. “I’m

skin as I press it onto the bleeding wound. The pain intensifies, but Zeke’s presence is a reassuring constant. I steal a

care.

Safe

But then he returns with a water bottle,

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

me blurs, edges fading into a fog of confusion. Zeke’s voice cuts through the haze, urgent and commanding.

says, his words a lifeline in the disorienting swirl of sensations. “Come on, I need you to do this for

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

a lifeline in the growing

symphony, and the growls intensify. It’s a cacophony

scoff, his voice

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

Alina. Focus on staying awake.” His words guide me through the disorientation. 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.

matches the ominous sounds in the distance. The world

through my fingers. But i cling to Zeke’s voice, the anchor

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 everything feels like it’s spiraling out of control, but the words remain trapped in the

heard about certain animals being attracted to it, drawn to the metallic tang that hangs in the wind. And now, as I feel

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 feeling of being watched. The scent of my blood, a vulnerable

a flame. In