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.”

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

this, Alina. Together.”

I don’t want to hurt

audible, revealing the fragile admission of

can’t predict what’ll happen,

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

my thumb brushing away a stray tear from her cheek. “You’re worth every bit

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

“Zeke, you’re bleeding!”

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

touch, 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 aid kit, I notice the glistening tears streaking down her face, revealing the depth of her inner turmoil.

you calmed down,

a bandage in hand, I carefully unravel it, feeling the soft fabric and seeing the adhesive

what happened. Her eyes remain fixed on me, flickering between the bandage and my face, as if searching for

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

Don’t worry about it.”

at her, I could see a complex blend of gratitude and guilt reflecting in her eyes. As she tries to maintain

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

can’t kill me.” I reach out, gently brushing her hair away from her face. “Besides, it’s just

hidden within the plain white surface. “I could have really hurt you, Zeke. What

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

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

“Maybe it’s better if I sleep outside. That way, I won’t

about not allowing her

alone.

I should be the one staying

serious right now?” Her eyes meet mine, a mixture of surprise and frustration flickering within. “Why

I can’t be angry at you. We’re navigating uncharted territory, and I won’t

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

running through her hair. “We’ll figure this out,

of the night’s events still pressing on

of the room. “You won’t, Alina. We’ll find a way through this, and I’m not

persist in her eyes, and I feel the need to lighten the atmosphere. “You know what we need? A distraction. How about a funny story?”

a small scoff,

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

laughter grows more genuine, erasing the lines of worry etched on her face. Her beautiful laugh fills the

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