The Mating Run by Leeka

In His Eyes: Equals

Zeke’s POV

“Hey, where you off to?”

Turning towards me, Alina raised an eyebrow, silently asking for an explanation. Her hair was neatly pulled back into a half ponytail, and she had her hoodie tied around her waist. Ettie has been unconscious for a few days now, and there are no signs of her waking up. Despite her best efforts to appear unfazed, Alina’s weary eyes reveal her exhaustion through the prominent bags beneath them.

To be honest, I’m kind of scared of letting her go anywhere without me. I worry about what could happen when she’s on her own. And I’m scared that her brain will make her go to that dark place again, where she becomes unreachable to me. I can tell that Alina is aware of my proximity, as she subtly glances in my direction. But every time, she instinctively reaches out to touch her mating mark, indicating her understanding of its meaning.

“Take it easy, Mr. Stalker.” With an exasperated sigh, Alina rolls her eyes and begins to make her way towards the door. “Look, I gotta go pee real quick. I don’t think I’ll need your help on that one, Zeke.”

“Can never be too careful.”

“Alright, Mr. Stalker. I’ll be back before you even notice I’m gone.”

After she disappeared into the forest, I was left alone with only the flickering candlelight illuminating the room and the stillness of Ettie, lying unconscious on the makeshift bed. I busied myself with sharpening my tools, the sharp, metallic sound breaking the eerie silence of the cabin. With each stroke, the sharpening stone effortlessly glided across the blade, leaving a sharp, polished edge.

Throughout my work, I kept my senses heightened, ready to pick up on any subtle shifts in the environment. The forest outside seemed to hold its breath, and every rustle of leaves or distant snap of a twig was a potential threat.

Suddenly, the silence was broken by a faint, almost imperceptible creaking sound that barely registered in my ears. My instincts took over, causing me to spin around in one fluid motion, knife raised and prepared for whatever danger may come. Ettie came into view, and my eyes instantly widened. Her gaze lifted, connecting with mine, and the intensity in her eyes sent shivers coursing through

1. me.

With her elbows as support, she lifted herself up, resembling a marionette controlled by unseen forces. As she looked at me, her eyes no longer held any trace of recognition or emotion, only a blank and empty stare. It was as though Ettie had become a conduit for an unknown power, her body a mere vessel, and the darkness that enveloped her was beyond anything she had ever encountered. The sight. strangely reminded me of Alina when I found her vulnerable and alone.

As I moved back cautiously, I could feel my muscles tightening with each step. Her eyes were distant and unfocused, leaving me unsure if she could comprehend or respond. There was no warmth in her gaze, no recognition. It was akin to gazing into the unfamiliar gaze of a stranger.

For a brief moment, she continued to be motionless, the silence growing more pronounced with each passing second.

Then, with an unsettling speed, she lunged forward. With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I swung the knife in a swift and instinctive motion, warding her off. In the dim light, the gleaming blade caught my attention as I struggled to comprehend the unfolding situation.

“Hey, stop!” I let out a shout, my voice shaking with a mix of frustration and desperation. The deranged look in her eyes persisted, leaving no doubt that there was no use in trying to reason with whatever had taken control of her. “I mean it,

psycho!”

As she continued to advance, my heart raced and I instinctively took a step backward, desperately searching for a plan. The cramped cabin forced me to consider my limited options, and the weight of the situation bore heavily upon me. As I was about to knock her out with something, Alina bursts back into the cabin, her panicked breathing filling the room.

a single word, I stood there and witnessed Alina’s joyful sprint towards Ettie, their embrace filled with warmth and affection. The room

presence.

you’re finally awake,” Her voice barely above a whisper, Alina spoke with a heaviness of emotion. Her cheeks were streaked with tears, leaving her clothes moist and

vacant stare to a glimmer of recognition. A tear escaped her, tracing a path down her cheek as she, too, succumbed to the overwhelming wave of emotions. The next thing I know, they were both holding

so overwhelming that any sense of exclusion faded away. Alinal and Ettie had been through something I could only attempt to understand, and their connection, forged through years of

Her voice trembled as Alina whispered, a blend of relief and lingering fear evident in her words. Her fingers traced invisible patterns on Ettie’s back, as if reassuring herself that the friend she had feared losing was indeed there. “Do you know how

– they had transitioned from a vacant stare to a glimmer of recognition. “I was lost after what happened to us…

voice barely audible, as she wore

meeting in a silent exchange of unspoken

words.

you

Eyes Equals

of shared memories, now faced an unexpected chord. Alina cleared her throat, and as she turned towards me, a sense of belonging washed over

Alina began, her voice hesitant yet determined,

which were previously clouded with confusion, locked onto me. The disappointment in her eyes cast a shadow over their reunion, dimming its once radiant glow. The cabin’s

in the weight

is my mate,

surprise and disappointment, her gaze quickly shifting downward as if trying to make sense

said, her voice filled with a forced cheerfulness that couldn’t hide her true emotions. “Really, I am.”

complicated reality they were now facing. Although I couldn’t grasp the full story of what had happened between them, Ettie’s peculiar behavior compelled me to instinctively move closer to Alina. I refrain from touching her, aware that Alina would disapprove of any territorial

at Ettie’s neck as she turned towards her with a mix

happened to you, Ettie?”

gaze fixed on the wound. Ettie’s face betrayed a flicker of vulnerability

heavy sigh and averts her gaze,

me-”

someone, and they… they

best efforts to stay out of the conversation, I found myself unable

Hunter.” Startled, both of them turn towards me as I say

a condescending look, as if I

something like that. Clearing her throat, she absentmindedly scratches her cheek, trying to divert her attention. “My bad, I have no clue why I said that. I don’t even remember them, anyways. I caught a whiff of smoke and then, well, yeah. I think they thought I was a Hider

exchanged wide–eyed glances. No words were exchanged, but the knowing glances between us spoke volumes about what Ettie was referring to. A strand of hair falls in front of Alina’s face, and as she tucks it behind

squeeze.