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.”

I pull her into a

get through this, Alina.

and I don’t want to hurt you

whispers, her words barely audible, revealing the

what’ll happen, but we can face it together.

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

her cheek. “You’re worth

out to touch my neck. The moment her fingers make contact with my skin, a

“Zeke, you’re bleeding!”

during the nightmare. Alina’s eyes welled up with tears at

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 depth of her inner turmoil. With a gentle smile,

get you calmed down, okay?”

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

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

in place on my neck, I am relieved

Alina. Don’t worry about

see a complex blend of gratitude and guilt reflecting in her eyes. As

her voice barely audible over the quiet hum of the night. “I could have

out, gently brushing her hair away from her

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 you, Zeke. What if

aid kit aside, taking a moment 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

shared vulnerability. My words, spoken with a quiet determination, act as an anchor, keeping us grounded

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

about not allowing her to bear the guilt

alone.

anything, I should be the

Her eyes meet mine, a mixture of surprise and frustration flickering within.

for her 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 abandon you when you need support the most.”

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. The warmth of the moment is both soothing and reassuring.

okay to feel overwhelmed, Alina,” I say, my fingers gently running through

night’s events still

room. “You won’t, Alina. We’ll find a way through this, and

her eyes, and I feel the need to lighten the

a small scoff, a hesitant

be funny, even if

begin, “You know, when I was younger, I tried to cook dinner for the pack. Let’s just say, it ended up being more of a bonfire than a meal. The Alpha was so mad at me,

the story, Alina’s laughter grows more genuine, erasing the lines of worry etched on her face. Her

gratitude. “Thank you,