The Mating Run by Leeka

Chapter 52

Fake

My eyes flutter open, and I am met with the comforting sensation of being held. by Zeke.

In any other circumstance, being held in such an embrace upon waking up offers a sense of comfort, a quiet reminder of our strong connection. As my consciousness fully returns, a disconcerting truth settles heavily on my shoulders.

Zeke’s arms, which were once a comforting embrace, now feel constricting and suffocating. It isn’t the gentle embrace I expect upon waking; it’s a hold that leaves. me feeling confined.

I shift, feeling increasingly uncomfortable as my senses pick up on the presence of another camera. The camera’s unblinking lens is fixed on us, as if freezing the vulnerability of the moment in time. It’s as if a punch to the gut, the realization washes over me – we are being watched again, our every intimate moment exposed to unseen eyes.

And I just know that it is Zeke’s idea, as the sound of his voice echoes in my

mind.

Anger and betrayal surge through me, overwhelming my emotions.

I carefully untangle myself from Zeke’s embrace, the once gentle motion now filled with a hint of desperation. The weight of my emotions threatens to spill over, creating a heavy atmosphere around me. I crave distance, a breath of air to bring clarity to my thoughts.

I feel manipulated, like a pawn on a chessboard with every move carefully plotted.

The sound of something shifting beside me causes me to tense up, and I let out a quiet curse.

“Alina, what’s wrong?”

Through the silence, Zeke’s voice rings out, carrying a palpable sense of worry. Standing there, I can feel his gaze on me, his eyes filled with confusion. With a tired sigh, he rubs his eye and lets out a quick yawn. Although I despise it, a surge of concern for him floods my being.

At first, I remain silent, not answering. As he continues to stare at me, I let out a frustrated sigh. I mumble under my breath, the words barely escaping my lips.

“I just need to get out and get some air.”

As I speak, my voice trembles with the same intensity as the brewing storm

within.

Zeke’s voice echoes through the air once more, tinged with both anxiety and

perplexity.

“Alina, please. Tell me what’s wrong.”

In that fleeting moment, the weight of my emotions makes me contemplate opening up to him, as if the words are begging to be released. I want to ask the question that lingers in my mind – what are we? And what does this mean for us? I fall silent, that we are still being watched, and that someone or something is

aware

observing our every move.

all this, making himself appear like a concerned potential mate, fills me with

my eyes away from

sigh, his tone filled

emotions.

stick together. If things aren’t right, we

in his words, and in any other situation, I

Sun, 10

Fake

seems

turn to him, our eyes locking in an intense gaze.

give me some

his face etched with a frown. The unspoken tension hangs in the air, and with each step I take away from him, it feels as though

nook, shielded from the intrusive gaze of the cameras, and allow the rain to drench me. As the rain pours down, my tears blend with the raindrops, silently releasing the emotions that have

within me.

to myself, I can’t help but wonder – is there anything real about our connection? Even when Zeke and I have tender moments,

the bone and feeling exposed,

there, his figure casting a striking silhouette against the backdrop of the shelter, his eyes mirroring a mix of worry and tenderness. I can feel the stark difference between the comforting warmth of the shelter and the

urgency, Zeke swiftly covers me with a warm

from another sponsor.

yet so powerful, surrounds me with a soothing sense of security. I

pierces through the heavy silence of the rain. With a gentle touch, he reaches out and brushes away my tears, his thumb leaving a comforting warmth

careful not

falls on

“What?”

take a deep breath, the weight of the unspoken truths pressing on my chest. “Zeke,” I begin, my voice a fragile whisper. “What are

filled with warmth, stiffen. There is a brief flicker of uncertainty on his face as he opens and closes his mouth, unable to find the right words. The

the intensity of my emotions becoming

palpable.

keep running away from this. I can’t keep ignoring this or I’ll lose my mind. Give it to me straight. Tell me, what

I feel the dampness seeping into my bones, mirroring the storm inside me. Facing Zeke, my emotions boil over with anger, frustration, and the acrid taste of betrayal.

through me like an unstoppable flood, and I can no longer keep

As raindrops

torment.

to his chest. “Stop doing all this stuff to me if you can’t even learn to like me in

understanding and regret etched

ground and drowning out

a blend of frustration and hopelessness. “Is anything between

#

my punches, silently watching as all my hidden

something!” I plead, my fists pounding against his chest. “Tell me this is real. That you’re not acting!”

eyes meet, I can see a whirlwind

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