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.”

her into a

get through this,

and I don’t want

her words barely audible, revealing the fragile

“We can’t predict what’ll happen, but we can face it together. And I’m

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

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

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

“Zeke, you’re bleeding!”

during the nightmare. Alina’s eyes welled up with tears at the sight of blood, her hands shaking as she comprehended the unintended

bed, feeling the warmth of 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,

you calmed down, okay?”

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

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

securely in place on my neck, I am

Alina. Don’t

her eyes. As she tries to maintain her composure, there’s a lingering sense

me,” she whispers, her voice barely audible over the quiet hum of the night. “I could have

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

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

first aid kit aside, taking a moment to listen to the birds chirping in the distance. “We’ll find a way to manage it,

the weight of uncertainty, enveloping us in a shared vulnerability. My words, spoken with a quiet determination, act as an anchor, keeping

voice trembling with a touch of hesitation. “Maybe

head, adamant about not allowing her

alone.

should

you serious right now?” Her eyes meet mine, a mixture of surprise and frustration flickering

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

there’s no distance between us. Instead, I pull her close, my arms enveloping her in a protective embrace. The warmth of the moment is

Alina,” I say, my fingers gently running through her hair. “We’ll figure this out, step

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

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

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

scoff, a hesitant smile forming.

you can be funny, even if you

more of a bonfire than a meal. The

moment in the story, Alina’s laughter grows more genuine, erasing the lines of worry etched on her face. Her beautiful laugh fills the room, momentarily drowning out all other sounds.

her eyes reflecting gratitude. “Thank you, Zeke.