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?”

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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

Egos

kind of dream”

the warmth and softness as I give it a gentle

squeeze.

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

值

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

What does this mean

pull her onto my lap. However, she avoids

find their way into my hair, the familiar texture providing a sense of grounding. “We can leave-”

“No.”

guard, causing me to flinch. When I look at her again, I notice that she’s frowning, her eyebrows furrowed and her

“Alina?”

in the cabin feels heavy with tension, as if every word spoken by Alina has settled and hangs in the atmosphere. I had

can’t discern the

to reach out

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Eyes: Answer

but feel a pang of

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about leaving with you, Zeke,” Her steady voice betrays 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

I fight to keep

“Huh?”

until now. Frustrated, she lets out a

more restless.

if you’re a good guy or the bad guy, Zeke. And it

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

you question whether I’m

Alina ran her hand over her face, her expression filled

annoyance.

down. In my mind, it feels like the Mating Run just started a few days ago. I have no idea, my brain’s a total mess. I thought you were trying to

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

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Eyes

made sure everything was okay between us. Looking back, I wish I hadn’t done

complete my sentence before Alina 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

saying,” Crying into her hands, she whispered her words to me, making sure not to let out a single sound. “In my brain, it’s only been a couple of days. A long time ago? Seriously, how did

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

the bad guy here,

voice filled the air as she replied, and her eyes locked with mine once more. With her eyes bloodshot from crying, she glares at me and throws her hands up in the air in frustration. “I just need time to

help but run a hand

I care about you. Why can’t you trust that?”