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.

there and witnessed Alina’s joyful sprint towards Ettie, their embrace filled with warmth and affection. The room seemed to hold its breath as Alina clung to Ettie, her eyes closed as if savoring the

presence.

cheeks

of recognition. A tear escaped her, tracing a path down her cheek

the murderous intent she had displayed moments ago was so overwhelming that any sense of exclusion faded away. Alinal and Ettie had been through something I could

her words. Her fingers traced invisible patterns on Ettie’s back, as if reassuring herself that the friend she had feared

to a glimmer of recognition. “I was lost after what

Alina admitted, her voice barely audible, as she wore a confused expression while Ettie spoke into her ear. “I really

pulled away slightly, their eyes meeting in a silent exchange

words.

you too, Alina.

His Eyes

shared memories, now faced an unexpected chord. Alina cleared her throat, and as

began, her voice hesitant yet

their reunion, dimming

resonated in the weight of her

is my mate,

a combination of surprise and disappointment, her

Ettie said, her voice filled with a forced cheerfulness that couldn’t hide her true

I couldn’t grasp the full story of what had happened between them, Ettie’s peculiar behavior compelled me to instinctively move

drawn to the bandaged wound at Ettie’s neck as she turned

to you, Ettie?”

her unwavering gaze fixed on the wound. Ettie’s face betrayed a flicker of vulnerability as her gaze met Alina’s. Ettie’s hand hovers just above her bandaged wound, trembling

heavy sigh and averts her gaze, overcome with

me-”

don’t remember much. There was someone, and they… they tried to mark

stay out of the conversation, I found myself unable to resist jumping

towards me as I say the words

me a condescending look, as if I

under her breath, her eyes widening like she couldn’t believe she had actually said 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 or

mentioned, both Alina and I 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

squeeze.