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.”

streaked with tears, remains a poignant display of sorrow. As I pull her into a comforting embrace, I can feel

get through this,

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

her words barely audible, revealing the

listen to me,” I say, my voice a gentle murmur. “We can’t predict what’ll happen, but we can face it together. And I’m not

of gratitude

tear from her cheek. “You’re worth every bit of patience and understanding. We’ll find a

my skin, a grimace forms on my face. I

“Zeke, you’re bleeding!”

of her grip during the nightmare. Alina’s eyes welled up with tears at the sight

her presence next to mine. As I reach for the first aid kit, I notice the glistening tears streaking down her face, revealing the depth of her inner turmoil. With a gentle smile, I offer

calmed down, okay?”

carefully unravel it, feeling the soft fabric and

eyes remain fixed on me, flickering between the bandage and my face, as if searching for answers. “I’m sorry, Zeke. I don’t know why I did

I

Alina. Don’t worry

guilt reflecting in her eyes. As she tries to maintain her composure, there’s a lingering sense of vulnerability

audible over

hair away from her face. “Besides,

the fabric as if trying to unravel the secrets hidden within the

pause, setting the first aid kit aside, taking a moment to listen to the birds chirping in the distance. “We’ll find a way to manage it, Alina. And I won’t let you push yourself away because of this. We face it

uncertainty, enveloping us in a shared vulnerability. My words, spoken with a quiet determination, act

trembling with a touch of hesitation. “Maybe it’s better if I sleep

head, adamant about not allowing her to bear

alone.

Alina. If anything, I should be

now?” Her eyes meet mine, a mixture

hands, feeling their soft warmth in my grasp. “Alina, I can’t be angry at you. We’re navigating uncharted territory, and I

Instead, I pull her close, my

I say, my fingers gently running through her hair.

the weight of the night’s events still pressing on her.

in the quiet of the room. “You won’t, Alina. We’ll find a way through this, and

and I feel the need to lighten the atmosphere. “You know what we need? A distraction. How about a funny

scoff, a hesitant

think you can be funny, even if you

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

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

gratitude. “Thank you, Zeke. I