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.”

remains a poignant display of sorrow. As I pull her into a comforting embrace, I can feel her body relax against mine, seeking solace in the

this,

I don’t want to hurt you

audible, revealing the fragile admission

can’t predict what’ll happen, but we can face it together. And

this?” She looks up, her gaze meeting mine with a mix of gratitude and longing. “I don’t think I deserve someone as patient and

reply, my thumb brushing away a stray tear from her cheek. “You’re worth every bit of patience and understanding. We’ll find a way

gasp filled the air, her widened eyes reflecting pure horror, as her hands instinctively reached out to touch my neck. The moment her fingers make contact with my skin, a

“Zeke, you’re bleeding!”

neck, a tiny wound left behind by the strength of her grip during the nightmare. Alina’s

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

calmed down, okay?”

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

between the bandage and my face, as if searching for answers. “I’m sorry,

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

Don’t worry

a complex blend of gratitude and guilt reflecting in her eyes. As

audible over the quiet hum

out, gently brushing her hair away from her face. “Besides, it’s just a scratch,

her fingertips gently caressing the fabric as if trying to unravel the secrets hidden within the plain white

“We’ll find a way to

words, spoken with a quiet determination, act as an anchor, keeping us grounded in the midst

speaking, her voice trembling with a touch of hesitation. “Maybe it’s better if I sleep outside. That way, I won’t hurt you.”

shake my head, adamant about not allowing her

alone.

I should be the one staying outside.”

Her eyes meet mine, a mixture of surprise and frustration flickering within. “Why aren’t you

hands, feeling their soft warmth in my grasp. “Alina, I can’t be angry at

down the bed, encouraging her to lie back. This time, there’s no distance between us. Instead, I pull her close, my arms enveloping her

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

lets out a shaky breath, the weight of the night’s events still pressing

tighter, the words spoken in the quiet of the room. “You

feel the need to lighten the atmosphere. “You know what we need?

gives a small scoff, a hesitant smile

don’t think you can be funny, even if you

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 to run around the

genuine, erasing the lines of worry etched on her

eyes reflecting gratitude. “Thank you, Zeke. I needed