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

get through this, Alina. Together.”

hurt you, and I don’t

revealing the fragile admission of

what’ll happen, but we can face

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 as you,

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

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

“Zeke, you’re bleeding!”

the nightmare. Alina’s

her presence next to mine. As I reach for the first aid kit, I notice the glistening tears streaking down

get you calmed

carefully unravel it, feeling the soft fabric and seeing the adhesive side that will soon adhere to my

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

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

okay, Alina. Don’t worry

and guilt reflecting in her eyes. As

barely audible over the quiet hum of the night.

her hair away from her face. “Besides,

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

moment to listen to the birds chirping in the distance. “We’ll find a way to manage it, Alina. And

My words, spoken with a quiet determination, act as an anchor, keeping us grounded in the midst

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

adamant about not allowing her to bear the guilt

alone.

I should be the

mine, a mixture

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

distance between us. Instead, I pull

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

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

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

was younger, I tried to cook dinner for the pack. Let’s just say, it ended up being more of a bonfire

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

gratitude. “Thank