The Mating Run by Leeka

In His Eyes: Karma

Zeke’s POV

My heart raced as I followed the sound, the pounding echoing in my ears.

As the trees part, a small clearing is revealed, and in its center stands a figure, concealed in darkness.

“Alina!”

I gasp, feeling a rush of relief wash over me like a tidal wave. I rush towards her, feeling the adrenaline pumping through my veins with each clumsy step. There is a distant look in her eyes as she stands there, lost in her own thoughts. My hands shook uncontrollably as they made contact with her face, desperately searching for any evidence of bruising. Luckily, there’s none.

“Alina, are you okay? What happened?”

She keeps quiet, her focus unwavering as she looks past me. I can’t help but notice the feverish heat that engulfs her skin as I run my fingers over it, sending shivers down my spine.

“Alina, talk to me.” I pleaded, my voice trembling with desperation. Her lips part, but no sound emerges from her mouth. A heavy silence fills the space between us, making it unbearable. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

I wrap my arms around her, feeling the warmth of her body against mine.

“It’s okay, Alina. I’m here. You’re safe.”

The memory of losing her resurfaces in my mind, the raw fear flooding back. I press my lips to her forehead, feeling the warmth of her skin and the softness of her hair against my face.

“I thought I lost you again,” I admit, my voice breaking. “I can’t bear it, Alina. I

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can’t lose you. Why don’t we go back to the cabin? You have to rest to let the fever subside.”

Her eyes flicker with a glimmer of recognition, giving me a surge of hope. Without saying a word, her body eases into mine, offering a sense of solace that I desperately grasp onto. I feel her head resting gently on my shoulder, and with that simple touch, my panic begins to dissipate. Her scent reminds me of home, and it’s where I long to be.

“…-Ke-”

Just as quickly as the calmness spreads through me, I hear her voice, soft and melodic.

I stiffen, feeling a wave of relief wash over me as my lips twitch into a smile.

“Alina?”

“…get…away from…me-”

Suddenly, a searing pain shot through my stomach, blinding me momentarily.

I stumble back, the pain causing a sharp groan to escape my lips.

causing my eyes to widen in shock as I glance

as it pooled and spread across my skin. Waves of panic surge through me, overpowering my senses and threatening to drown out reason. Glancing at Alina,

what did

as I see her, her piercing gaze fixed upon me, her claws stained crimson with my blood. A vacant look settled in her eyes, as if she were watching the scene unfold from afar, detached from her own

His Eyes:

back from her, my hand instinctively clutching the wound, my face betraying the desperation I can’t hide. She lifts her hands, and her sharp claws are

body moving in an uncoordinated manner. The claws on her hands glint ominously, a stark contrast to the gentleness they

at me with a fierce intensity. Her claws graze my cheeks, causing a sharp sting as I stagger back. Ignoring the blossoming pain, my focus remains fixed on the turmoil consuming her.

desperation in my voice escalating. “Snap out

the feral glint in her eyes undiminished. Her claws flash, and in a split second, I duck, narrowly escaping

it’s in self–defense, I can’t bring myself to

hoarse. “What

a spark of recognition dances in their eyes, before disappearing without a trace. With a predatory gleam in her eyes,

jerks backward, my heart thumping loudly in

than this! Fucking

her eyes vacant and distant, a mere shell

I once

am I supposed to do? It breaks my heart to see her like

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where reason has no role to play. There’s no more room to evade her, and I can’t keep finding ways to avoid her. The inevitable clash draws

x

of frustration crashes over me as she charges forward. Anguish and helplessness collide, causing me to stagger backwards as my vision blurs. I fall. The sensation of the cold ground meeting my back amplifies the overwhelming feelings of pain and

I can’t afford to stay down. Fueled by determination, I push myself up, my muscles straining as I

darkness.

“Alina!”

Our eyes meet, and in that fleeting moment, I see a spark of familiarity before it disappears. It’s a cruel sight, a fleeting glimmer of hope quickly overtaken by the haunting emptiness

narrowly escaping her grasp. With a swift motion, I

out of it, Alina!”

waged. I cling to the hope that she’ll break free, that the

I bég, the weight of the situation bearing down on me. “You

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who you

claws in my direction. I stumbled backward, taken aback by

“Fuck!”

the gaping wound in my stomach and my shoulder. As blood continues to pour from my wounds, my vision becomes increasingly blurred. I

there’s no way I can save

the air sends chills down my back. The sound of her footsteps reverberates in my ears, a clear indication of her determined pursuit. My chest tightens as panic takes hold. I can’t

I navigate through the dense foliage, the branches scrape against my face, leaving behind stinging pain. I steal a glance over my shoulder, my eyes barely catching a glimpse of her fleeting figure. With an ethereal

she wants to kill me, she’s never looked