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.”

a comforting embrace, I can feel her body relax against

get through this, Alina. Together.”

hurt you, and I don’t want to

whispers, her words barely audible, revealing the fragile

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

with a mix of gratitude and longing. “I

from her cheek. “You’re worth every bit of patience and understanding. We’ll find a way through this,

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 grimace forms on my face. I can then feel a wetness against my neck, and my fingers confirm it as

“Zeke, you’re bleeding!”

my neck, a tiny wound left behind by the strength of her grip during the nightmare. Alina’s eyes welled up with tears at the sight of blood, her hands shaking as she comprehended

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

you calmed down, okay?”

With a bandage in hand, I carefully unravel it, feeling the soft fabric and seeing the adhesive side that will soon adhere

flickering between the bandage and my face, as if searching for answers.

neck, I am relieved to feel

Alina. Don’t worry

guilt reflecting in her eyes.

voice barely audible over the

gently brushing her hair away from her face. “Besides, it’s

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

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

in a shared vulnerability. My words, spoken

hesitation. “Maybe it’s better if I sleep outside. That

not allowing her to

alone.

Alina. If anything, I should be the

serious right now?” Her eyes meet mine, a mixture of surprise

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

distance between us. Instead, I pull her close, my arms enveloping her in a protective embrace. The warmth of the moment is both soothing

running through her

events still pressing on her. “I don’t want

spoken in the quiet of the room. “You won’t, Alina. We’ll

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

gives a small scoff,

you can be funny, even if you try.”

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 to run around the pack’s

more genuine, erasing the lines of worry etched on her face.

smiles, her eyes reflecting gratitude. “Thank you, Zeke. I