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.”

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 the safety of

through this, Alina.

don’t want to hurt you

words barely audible, revealing the fragile admission of the turmoil within.

predict what’ll happen,

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

say that,” I reply, my thumb brushing away a stray tear from her cheek. “You’re worth every bit of patience and understanding. We’ll find

make contact with my skin, a grimace

“Zeke, you’re bleeding!”

mark on 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

the first aid kit, I notice the glistening tears streaking down her face,

you calmed

calming murmur. With a bandage in hand, I carefully unravel it, feeling the soft fabric and seeing the adhesive side that will soon adhere to my neck,

trembling slightly, clearly still affected by what happened. Her eyes remain fixed on me, flickering between the bandage and my face, as if searching

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

okay, Alina. Don’t

and guilt reflecting in her eyes. As she

hurt because of me,” she whispers, her voice barely audible over the quiet hum of the night.

hair away from her face.

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 if I

birds chirping in the distance. “We’ll find a way to manage it, Alina. And I won’t let you

us in a shared vulnerability. My words, spoken with a

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

not allowing her to

alone.

I should be the one staying

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

grasp. “Alina, I can’t be angry at you.

finish, I guide 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 in a protective embrace.

feel overwhelmed, Alina,” I say, my fingers gently running through her hair. “We’ll figure

the night’s events

the quiet of the room. “You won’t,

fear persist in her eyes, and I feel the need to lighten the atmosphere. “You know what

gives a small scoff, a

don’t think you can be funny, even

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

erasing the lines of worry etched on her face. Her beautiful laugh fills the

gratitude. “Thank you, Zeke.