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.”

pull her into a comforting embrace, I can feel her body relax against mine,

this, Alina. Together.”

I don’t

words barely audible, revealing the

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

a mix of gratitude and longing. “I don’t think

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

her fingers make contact with my skin,

“Zeke, you’re bleeding!”

shift downward, and I see a mark on my neck, a tiny wound left behind by the strength of her grip during the nightmare. Alina’s eyes

to mine. As I reach for the first aid kit, I notice the glistening

you calmed

murmur. With a bandage in hand, I carefully unravel it, feeling the soft fabric and seeing the

still affected by what happened. Her eyes remain fixed on me, flickering between the

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

Alina. Don’t worry about it.”

complex blend of gratitude and guilt reflecting in her eyes. As she tries to maintain her composure, there’s a lingering

whispers, her voice barely audible over the quiet hum of

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

fingertips gently caressing the fabric as if trying to unravel the secrets hidden within the plain white surface. “I could have really

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

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

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

about not allowing her to

alone.

anything, I should be the one staying outside.”

mine, a mixture of surprise

angry at you. We’re navigating uncharted territory, and I won’t abandon you when you need support

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 in a protective embrace. The warmth of the moment is both soothing and

to feel overwhelmed, Alina,” I say, my fingers gently running through her

events still pressing on her. “I don’t want to hurt you,

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

traces of fear 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?”

small scoff, a hesitant

you can be funny, even if you try.”

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

passing moment in the story, Alina’s laughter grows more genuine, erasing the lines of worry etched on her face.

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