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.”

a 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

this, Alina. Together.”

you, and I don’t

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

a gentle murmur. “We can’t predict what’ll happen, but we can face it together. And

like this?” She looks up, her gaze meeting mine with a mix of gratitude and longing. “I don’t think I deserve

stray tear from her cheek. “You’re worth

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

“Zeke, you’re bleeding!”

the strength of her grip during the nightmare. Alina’s eyes welled up with tears at the sight of blood, her hands shaking as she

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

get you calmed

in hand, I carefully unravel it, feeling the soft fabric and

the bandage

my neck, I am relieved to feel the coolness

okay, Alina. Don’t

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

she whispers, her voice barely audible over the quiet hum of the night. “I

brushing her hair away from her

as if trying to unravel the secrets hidden within the plain white surface. “I could have really hurt you, Zeke. What if it

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

spoken with a quiet determination, act as

touch of hesitation. “Maybe it’s better if

adamant about not allowing her to

alone.

If anything, I should be the one

serious right now?” Her eyes meet mine, a mixture

warmth in my grasp. “Alina, I can’t be angry at you. We’re navigating uncharted territory, and I won’t abandon you when you

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

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

lets out a shaky breath, the weight of the night’s events still pressing on her. “I don’t want

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

and I feel the need to lighten the atmosphere. “You know

a small scoff, a hesitant smile forming.

be funny, even if you try.”

more

more genuine, erasing the lines of worry etched on her face.

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