The Mating Run by Leeka

In His Eyes: Curse

Zeke’s POV

Alina’s movements were noticeably faster this time around.

As she twists, her body slips through my fingers and I lose my grip on her. Before I knew it, her claws were outstretched, glinting dangerously as they aimed straight at my neck. I don’t duck as quick as I hoped, and her claws stratches a part of my jaw. Pain courses through my body as I bleed, causing me to groan and wince.

Just as I was about to reach for her again, Alina takes a step back, her body tense and rigid. At first, I thought she was doing so because she was in a trance again. But as I look at her face, I notice the tense set of her jaw and the creases on her forehead, all signs of frustration. With a snarl on her lips and her fingers twitching, it was clear that she had a desire to hurt me once more.

But instead of walking towards me, she’s now moving away with stiff, measured

strides.

I approach her, but she responds by shaking her head, her vacant eyes staring straight through me. Watching her, I couldn’t help but notice the way she moved with purpose towards the nearest tree. Right in front of it, she stops abruptly, her body tense as she firmly presses both hands against the rough bark of the tree.

“Alina…?”

With a wince, I try again, feeling the sharp ache in my stomach. I look down, feeling my eyes blink rapidly as the world around me becomes a blur. Blood was pouring out of me in an alarming quantity. The urgency of our situation becomes apparent – if I don’t act quickly, we will both die.

Then Alina started violently smashing her head against the tree trunk.

Once. Twice. Thrice.

Each time, she would smash her head against the tree with even greater force than before.

“Alina!”

Shouting at the top of my lungs, I rush towards her. My steps become

unsteady, my eyesight growing hazy, yet I persist. The impact of her head hitting the tree sends a shudder through my chest, a resounding echo of the torment she suffers. Desperate to save her, I reach out with trembling hands, but she stands firm, refusing to be moved.

Her words tumble out in fragmented stutters, her voice laced with anguish and an overwhelming sense of urgency.

“I–I have to stop… the voices-”

“What? What voices, Alina?” My heart races, its pounding echoing in my chest, as I feel utterly helpless at this moment. My hands tremble uncontrollably as I plead with her, desperately trying to pull her away from the destructive hold of the tree. “Please, you have to let me help you.”

But she resists, the vacant look in her eyes mirroring the struggle within her tortured mind. The forest seems to close in around us, bearing witness to a battle unseen, unheard.

“Zeke,” she mutters, her voice a fragile whisper amidst the chaos. “The… voices… voices won’t stop. They’re… tearing me apart.”

My mind races, desperately seeking a solution to reach her, to release her from the unseen chains that hold her captive.

trembled with desperation as I spoke. “It’s just you and me here. What are

gaping wound on her forehead, blood trickles down her face, leaving a trail of red in its wake. Wincing, I hastily reach out and grab her again, using all my strength to separate her from the tree. This time, she comes to a sudden halt, blood trickling from her forehead and landing on her nose. Gripping the sides of her

2/7

Eyes:

to cling to her sanity, slipping away like sand

confesses, her words laced with anguish. “They’re telling me things, horrible

tears cloud my eyes and make it hard to see. My fingers gently brush against the back of her neck as I reach out for her again. Hesitantly, I press her head against my shoulder, feeling the weight of her pain and

help, Alina. We’ll get through

“Stop…Stop it-”

her touch. I can feel the struggle within her, the desire to keep me at arm’s length

they telling you? The voices?

her with, and its effects are becoming evident. I’ve witnessed it countless times. The Alpha’s

them.

had over them. It is

and I sense her

“…Kill…you.”

empty gaze fixated on a world only she can fathom. I

3/7

His Eyes: Curse

warmth of my hug, but her body remains stiff and

hate seeing you like this,” I confess, the weight of my words lingering in the air.

f

through the forest, carried by its echoing sounds. As I press my lips against her forehead, I can’t help but feel the weight of a thousand

words a feeble attempt to pierce the veil of her suffering. “I’m here with you.”

to contain the pain within. I hold

the embrace, my heart yearning for just a few more seconds of warmth. Tears cascade down her cheeks, even though her eyes remain empty and emotionless. As my hand rises slowly, I delicately

skin was pale, except for the vivid crimson mark on her forehead, a testament to a recent wound. With utmost care, I gently remove the

murmured apology as my fingers linger on

silent, her

atmosphere that fills the space between us. With a gentle motion, I lean in and press my lips against her forehead. I pull away and find myself captivated by her face, scrutinizing every nook and cranny with intense curiosity. Her beauty was ever–growing, and with each passing second, my

up on you, Alina,” I vow, my

Su 10

this Ives te

“No matter how hopeless it seems, I’ll stand

and Alina’s body went slack in my embrace, her head resting gently on my shoulder. A sigh of fatigue escaped me, its sound barely audible against the backdrop of the cool night air. She’d

it didn’t have to be like this,” I murmured to the silent forest, my words carried away by the night breeze. “But maybe, just maybe, this is

need.”

never wavered, tracking our every step, and I felt an intense urge