The Mating Run by Leeka

Zeke’s POV

“Alina!”

In His Eyes: Dreams

The words come out in a choked scream, the syllables stretched and strained.

But there’s no response. Her empty gaze seems to pierce through the darkness, detached and unfazed by the struggle beneath her hands. My chest tightens with fear, as if sharp claws are digging into my ribs, demanding to be set free from the crushing grip that looms over me. Desperation and confusion mingled in my eyes as I wrestled against her tight grip.

“Alina, please!” Struggling to speak, I managed to rasp out my words, my plea echoing in the void that separated us. “Let me go!”

And then, as if jolted awake from a dream, her eyes widen with recognition. In an instant, the vacant look on her face is replaced by a surge of realization, as she comprehends the magnitude of what she is doing. The tightness around my throat loosens, allowing me to take a gasping breath and feel the immediate relief of fresh oxygen entering my lungs.

“Zeke?”

As she speaks, her voice wavers, conveying a sense of confusion and deep remorse. Clutching my throat, I could still feel the lingering sensation of her hands, like a ghostly touch.

“What… What happened, Alina?”

Horror and guilt immediately wash over her face, causing her to recoil. Her hands tremble uncontrollably as she gazes at them, her entire body filled with a sense of unease.

“I don’t… I don’t know. I just… I thought I was dreaming.”

As I sit up, the bed feels even colder than it did moments ago.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” she says, her voice a fragile apology in the quiet darkness. “I’m sorry.”

“Alina, it’s okay,” I murmur, my voice an attempt at reassurance. “It was… just a bad dream, right?”

As she looks at me, her eyes, clouded with remnants of the night’s confusion, well up with tears, revealing a blend of fear and sorrow on her face.

“I’m sorry, Zeke,” she whispers, her voice trembling, eyes never wavering from my neck. “I’m so sorry, sorry, so sorry…”

My hand reaches out, delicately cupping her cheek, feeling the softness of her skin.

fell.

“Hey, it’s okay. Don’t cry, come on.’

But her tears kept streaming down her face, leaving gentle pathways as they

I guide her to sit beside me on the bed, the cold reality of the night enveloping us in its presence. “Alina, you can’t blame yourself. We’re both trying to figure this out, and sometimes things get a little messy. It doesn’t change how I feel about

you.”

tears, remains a poignant display of sorrow. As I pull her into a comforting

through this, Alina. Together.”

you, and I don’t want to hurt you anymore.”

words barely audible, revealing the fragile admission of

murmur. “We can’t predict what’ll happen, but we can face it together. And I’m not giving up on us.”

her gaze meeting mine with a mix of gratitude and longing. “I don’t think

her cheek. “You’re worth every

touch my neck. The moment her fingers make contact with my skin, a grimace forms on my face. I can then feel a wetness against my neck, and my fingers

“Zeke, you’re bleeding!”

of her grip during the nightmare. Alina’s

I guide Alina to sit beside me on the bed, feeling the warmth of her presence next to mine. As I reach for the first

get you calmed down, okay?”

softly, my voice a calming murmur. With a bandage in hand, I carefully unravel it, feeling the soft

remain fixed on me, flickering between the bandage and my face, as if searching for answers. “I’m

in place on my neck, I am relieved to feel the coolness

Alina. Don’t worry about it.”

a complex blend of gratitude and guilt reflecting in her eyes. As she tries to maintain her composure,

audible over the quiet hum of the night. “I could

her hair away from

focus never wavers from the bandage, her fingertips gently caressing the fabric as if trying to unravel the secrets hidden within the plain white surface. “I could have really hurt you, Zeke. What if it happens again? What if

the distance. “We’ll find a way to manage it, Alina. And I won’t let you push yourself away because of

in the air intensifies the weight of uncertainty, enveloping us in a shared vulnerability. My words, spoken with a quiet

hesitation. “Maybe it’s better if I sleep

adamant about not

alone.

If anything, I should be the

eyes meet mine, a mixture of surprise

at you. We’re

encouraging her to lie back. This time, there’s no distance between us. Instead, I pull her close, my arms enveloping her in a protective embrace. The warmth of

my fingers gently running through her hair. “We’ll

a shaky breath, the weight of the night’s events

hold her tighter, the words spoken in the quiet of the room. “You won’t, Alina. We’ll find a way through this,

the need to lighten the atmosphere. “You know

gives a small scoff, a hesitant

don’t think you can be

believe me?” I begin, “You know, when I was younger, I tried to cook dinner for the pack. Let’s just say, it ended up being more of a bonfire than a meal. The Alpha was so mad at me, he told me

worry etched on her face. Her beautiful laugh fills the room, momentarily drowning

eyes reflecting gratitude. “Thank