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.”

poignant display of sorrow. As I pull her into a comforting embrace, I can feel her body relax against mine, seeking solace

get through this, Alina.

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

words barely audible, revealing the fragile admission of the

can’t predict what’ll happen, but we can face

with a mix of gratitude and longing. “I don’t think I deserve someone as patient and understanding as you, Zeke.”

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

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

“Zeke, you’re bleeding!”

the nightmare. Alina’s eyes welled up with tears at the sight of blood, her hands shaking as she comprehended the unintended consequence

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, I

get you calmed down,

feeling the

clearly still affected by what happened. Her eyes remain fixed on me, flickering between the bandage and my face, as if searching for answers. “I’m sorry,

the bandage securely in place on my neck, I

okay, Alina. Don’t worry about

eyes. As she tries to

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

her hair away from her face.

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 it happens

listen to the birds chirping in the distance. “We’ll find a way to manage

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

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

not allowing her to

alone.

Alina. If anything, I should

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

be angry at you. We’re

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

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

weight of the night’s events still pressing on

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

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

scoff, a hesitant

don’t think you can be funny, even if you try.”

I 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

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

gratitude. “Thank you, Zeke. I