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 relax against mine, seeking solace in

this, Alina. Together.”

you, and I don’t want to

whispers, her words barely audible, revealing the fragile

listen to me,” 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 on us.”

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

from her cheek. “You’re worth every bit of patience and

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

“Zeke, you’re bleeding!”

behind by the strength of her grip during the nightmare. Alina’s eyes welled up with tears at the sight of blood,

her presence next to mine. As I reach for the first aid kit, I

calmed down, okay?”

With a bandage in hand, I carefully unravel it, feeling the

still affected by what happened. Her eyes remain fixed on me, flickering between the bandage and my face, as if searching for answers. “I’m sorry, Zeke. I don’t know why I did that.”

bandage securely in place on my neck, I am

Alina. Don’t worry about it.”

and guilt reflecting in her eyes. As she tries to

voice barely audible over the quiet

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

her 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

“We’ll find a way to manage it, Alina. And I won’t let you push yourself away because of this. We

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

begins speaking, her voice trembling with a touch of hesitation. “Maybe it’s better if I sleep outside. That

about not

alone.

Alina. If anything, I should be

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

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

her 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

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

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

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

need to lighten the atmosphere. “You know what we

gives a small scoff, a hesitant

think you can be funny,

ended up being more of a bonfire than

the lines of worry etched on her

her eyes reflecting gratitude. “Thank