The Mating Run by Leeka

In His Eyes: Answer

Zeke’s POV

As the morning light streams through the windows, it bathes the cabin in a gentle, golden hue while Alina stirs in my arms.

Shifting slightly to the side, I make sure to give her some room and respond with a smile as I look at her. When I see the look on her face, the smile immediately vanishes. Her gaze is unfocused, her expression confused, as if the events of yesterday are still lingering in the depths of her memory.

“Why are we… naked?”

Her voice is barely audible, a combination of uncertainty and a hint of

nervousness.

“You… you don’t remember? What about me? Do you… remember me?”

With a deep breath, I steady myself, mentally and physically, readying myself for the upcoming conversation that lies ahead. Her attention turns towards me, her eyes locked onto my face, searching for something. For a moment, a wave of fear washes over me, doubting if she will even recognize me. However, a flicker of recognition passes through her eyes, causing her to quickly look away and blink.

“I… I know you. Y–You’re…” Alina’s face contorted into a frown, a mix of frustration and bewilderment evident in her expression. “Ze…ke.”

With a smile on my face, I reach out and wrap an arm around her waist, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You’re right.”

Once again, a frown appears on her face as she instinctively reaches for her neck.

“Why does my neck hurt?”

78%

In His Eyes: Answer

A pang of guilt tightens my chest as I delicately run my fingers over the faint marks on her neck. Her body trembles at my touch, and I catch her covertly peering at me through her lowered lashes. With a sigh escaping my lips, I lean in and place a tender kiss on the side of her head, causing her eyes to flutter.

“I marked you,” I confessed, my voice so faint that it almost disappeared into the silence. Alina’s eyes widen in surprise at the admission, and she instinctively slaps a hand to her neck, wincing in pain. “I’m sorry, Alina. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.”

“Marked?”

“Yeah,” I reply, my gaze fixed on her. “It’s a… mating mark. It means you’re mine.”

Pulling away, frustration and confusion are evident on her face.

“Oh, I know exactly what a mating mark is, no need to explain! Just… just, I don’t understand. You were- Were we even anything? Seriously, how did this happen? I just… don’t get it, my thoughts are all tangled and I can’t make sense of anything.”

With a heavy sigh escaping my lips, I found solace in the rhythmic motion of combing my fingers through her hair. Alina remains close to me, but her body language reveals tension, as if she is uneasy in my presence. Although her actions hurt my heart, I know that they may be an unfortunate side effect of the Hupnos injected into her.

“I know,” I say, remorse tainting my words. “And if it makes you feel any better I wanted it to mean something more, something special. But in the heat of the moment, I… I lost control, and now you’re marked.”

I had the urge to smack my forehead, but I couldn’t come up with a different. expression to convey my exasperation. Having a mate is completely new to me as well, and it’s an entirely different experience. I never once imagined that I would have someone like her in my life, let alone someone as incredible as her.

“It doesn’t make me feel better.” Alina’s expression shifts, a subtle mix of emotions playing on hér features. “I can’t believe this happened. I feel like I’m in

2/7

ப

the Egos

kind of

feeling the warmth and softness

squeeze.

Alina. I never wanted to make you uncomfortable or do something you weren’t ready for.

值

to tell her that before, there were moments when it seemed like she was inviting me to leave my mark on her. But just as I start my other sentence, Alina abruptly pulls her hand away from mine, leaving my words unfinished.

now? What does this

my lap. However,

my fingers instinctively find their way into my hair, the familiar texture providing a sense

“No.”

flinch. When I look at her again, I notice that she’s frowning, her eyebrows furrowed and her lips

“Alina?”

word spoken by Alina has settled and hangs in the atmosphere. I had thought, hoped, that after

her face is an enigma, and I can’t discern the thoughts

formed between us, I mustered the courage. to reach out to her, hoping for reconciliation. With a subtle retreat, she moves away,

10 Ma

Eyes:

feel a

78%

no hint of emotion as she confesses, but her face remains unreadable. Standing up, she hastily grabs the nearest hoodie – my hoodie – from the makeshift bed and wraps it around herself. She even shields her body away from me, as though I haven’t spent countless nights tracing

fight to

“Huh?”

she lets out a sigh and absentmindedly tucks loose strands of her hair behind her ear, her pacing on the

more restless.

guy, Zeke. And it scares me. I can’t just leave with you without

the gut. Filled with offense and hurt, I forcefully rise from the bed, immediately making my way towards her. As she looks in my direction, her gaze falls upon my naked body, causing her to gasp and quickly look away. That hurts me too, much more than I would like, causing a deep ache in my heart. As I reach out and grab her forearm gently,

everything… you question whether I’m good to you?”

ran her hand over her face, her expression filled

annoyance.

have no idea,

With a click of my tongue, I walk towards her and position myself in demanding front of her.

10

78%

Eyes Answer

patched things up, remember? I made sure everything was okay between us. Looking back, I wish I hadn’t done what I did. I saved you and

bursts into tears, ending our conversation abruptly. Her tears glisten on her cheeks as I gently brush them away, but when I lean in for a kiss, she flinches, her closed eyes betraying her wounded heart. When she pushes against my chest, I release my grip on

not to let out a single sound. “In my brain, it’s only been a couple of days. A

feeling as if I’m being devoured by the overwhelming sense of

bad guy here, don’t you?”

glares at me and throws her hands up in the air in frustration. “I just need time to

the silence settles, it feels suffocating, and I can’t help

I care about you. Why can’t you