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

get through this, Alina. Together.”

hurt you, and I don’t want to hurt you anymore.”

words barely audible, revealing the fragile admission

to me,” I say, my voice a gentle murmur. “We can’t predict what’ll happen, but we can face it together.

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

thumb brushing away a stray tear from her cheek. “You’re worth every bit of patience and understanding.

The moment her fingers make contact with my

“Zeke, you’re bleeding!”

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 of blood, her hands shaking as she comprehended the unintended consequence

As I reach for the first

you calmed down, okay?”

speak softly, my voice a 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

happened. Her eyes remain fixed on me, flickering between the bandage and my face, as if searching for

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

okay, Alina. Don’t worry

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

me,” she whispers, her voice barely audible over

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

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

find a way to manage it, Alina. And

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

speaking, her voice trembling with a touch of hesitation. “Maybe

not

alone.

anything, I should be the

you serious right now?” Her eyes meet mine, a mixture of surprise and frustration flickering within. “Why aren’t you upset?!”

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 need support the most.”

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

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

of the night’s 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

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

scoff, a hesitant

be funny, even if

dinner for the pack. Let’s just say, it ended up being more of a bonfire than a meal. The

the lines of worry etched on her face. Her beautiful laugh fills the room, momentarily drowning out all other sounds.

her eyes reflecting gratitude. “Thank you,