The Mating Run by Leeka

Zeke's POV

In His Eyes: Indifference

With Ettie unconscious on her shoulder, Alina moves urgently, her footsteps
echoing in the silence. With blood flowing from the wound on Ettie’s neck, I keep
a vigilant eye and my hands poised, ensuring they remain steady and upright.
The air feels heavy with tension as I trail behind them, my senses on edge, alert
to any potential danger.

“Alina, what do you need?”

As I ask, my words seem to dissipate in the stillness, unnoticed by her. All her
attention is devoted to the critical mission of rescuing Ettie.

Alina guides Ettie to the makeshift bed in our dimly lit cabin, her movements
gentle and deliberate. My eyes nervously flickered back and forth between the
two women, uncertainty creeping into my thoughts. While I remain skeptical of
the blonde woman, the intensity in Alina’s eyes is undeniable. I know that if I tell
her to stop right now, she's going to respond in a way that feels like she’s biting
my head off, both figuratively and literally.

Alina’s face was cast in shadows by the dim light, her features taking on a more
serious and intense expression. I can tell that the task requires her complete
concentration by the deep lines etched on her forehead. The rawness of her
commitment is undeniably beautiful.

With each passing moment, Alina’s focus intensifies, her determination growing
stronger. With steady hands, she carefully tends to the gruesome wound, never
wavering. The tension in the air was palpable, and the only sound that could be
heard was the irregular breaths escaping Ettie’s unconscious body. With
precision, Alina’s hands swiftly retrieve a nearby first aid kit. She starts working
on the wound, meticulously cleaning it to prevent infection.

Time seems to stretch endlessly as Alina works tirelessly. Every gesture she
makes is filled with purpose and fueled by an invisible, inner strength. The air is
IVIL

In His Eyes: Indifference

heavy with the distinct metallic scent of blood. Finally, Alina steps back, her
sweat—drenched face showing a mix of exhaustion and determination as her
eyes finally meet mine. I see a myriad of emotions reflected in her eyes — relief,
exhaustion, and an unwavering determination. The makeshift bandage on Ettie’s
neck, though rough, was tightly wrapped to stop the bleeding.

“I think she'll be okay, for now,” Alina says, her voice hoarse, and I realize the toll
this improvised operation has taken on her. “But we have to get her out of here or
she’s going to die.”

No matter how much I desire to give her a reassuring and accurate answer, I am
unable to do so. And from the sorrowful expression on Alina’s face, it is evident
that she is aware of my inability to do the same.

“You know we can't leave until the game is over or until Ettie finds a mate.”

A soft sigh escapes Alina’s lips, a silent admission of the seriousness of our
situation. With care, she reaches Ettie’s side, where she lies unconscious on the
bed, and softly runs her hand along her face. It was a gesture that stirred a sense
of familiarity, evoking a history that eluded my understanding.

“We'll get you out of here,” Alina assures her, her gaze shifting from Ettie to meet
mine. “We will, won't we?”

The unspoken emotions hang thickly in the air, and I can feel the dryness of my
lips as I prepare to speak. “We'll do our best.”

A quiet request follows.

“Help me clean up.”

Together, we set to work, the task at hand offering a temporary escape from the
feral, unconscious woman lying on the bed, who was once her closest
companion. As we painstakingly scrub away the remnants of Ettie’s blood on the
ground, I steal occasional glances at Alina, trying to gauge her emotions. I
observe Alina’s unwavering commitment to the task as she stands with her back
turned to me. However, her subtle glances towards Ettie evoke a confusing blend
of bitter resentment and almost jealousy in me.

2/8

18:41 Mon, 11 Mar

In His Eyes Indifference

Alina’s dedication to Ettie remains steadfast, even after she lost her memories,
mirroring their bond from the past. A stark contrast to the uncertain ground on
which our relationship now stands.

“Zeke,” Alina’s voice breaks through the tumultuous thoughts swirling in my mind.
“Hand me the rag, please.”

I hand her the rag, and I watch again as Alina moves closer to the bed, wiping
the blood that got on Ettie’s legs. The tenderness in her actions was undeniable
as she went about her tasks, taking extra care to ensure Ettie remained
undisturbed.

“Thank you,” Alina says, breaking the quiet as she surveys our handiwork. “It
feels better in here.”

(2iYeah

As I watch, Alina leisurely strolls over to her friend and takes a seat right next to
her. Without hesitation, Alina begins to run her fingers through her friends hair,
as if it were second nature to her. The act was so intimate that I wondered if she
had forgotten I was even in the same room. My attention is fixated on Alina’s
graceful movements, the way her eyes delicately caress Ettie’s calm features,
causing a knot to form in the pit of my stomach.

Unable to ignore my mounting unease any longer, I finally gather the courage to
break the fragile serenity of the moment with my words.

“What do we do with her when she wakes up?”

Alina glances at me, confusion etching lines across her forehead.

“What do you mean by that, Zeke?”

I can feel my frustration building up inside me, and eventually, I can’t help but
speak my mind. I wish I didn’t sound so consumed by jealousy, the sound
echoing in

my own ears.

“I mean, what's the plan? Are we just going to act like nothing happened? Like
she didn't try to kill me?”

3/8

i

18:41 Mon, 11 Mar 7 O

In His Eyes Indifference

“She was just confused.” Alina’s eyes narrow, a spark of anger flickering within
them. “This shouldn't even be up for discussion. We take care of her. She’s my
best friend.”

I feel a sudden chill down my spine, which only adds to the growing heat of my
anger. in disbelief, I shake my head while a forced chuckle of anger escapes
from my lips.

“Alina, she tried to strangle me.”

“Ettie’s not herself right now. We can’t abandon her!”

“She might not be herself, but she’s dangerous. What if she attacks again?” I
slam a hand over my chest, appalled by Alina’s reaction, as if I had physically
punched her. “What if she decides to attack you instead of me the next time?”
With a glare, Alina locks eyes with me, her jaw visibly tense.

“I don’t know about you, but I don’t abandon the people I care about, no matter
what.”

I take a step closer to Alina, my frustration escalating into anger. “Alina, I care
about you. I care about us. But I can't just act like nothing happened.”

“Zeke, you're not thinking straight. Ettie needs us.”

“I'm not thinking straight?!” Taking a step back, I let out a mocking laugh as if she
had just cracked a joke. “What about us, Alina? What about our safety?”

“Our safety matters, but not at the cost of abandoning someone I care about,”
Alina takes a deep breath, her anger dissipating as a strong determination takes
its place. “You want an answer? Fine. We find a way to help Ettie without hurting
her. That's what we do.”

“I can’t believe you're putting her needs above ours,” .throw my hands up
frustration. “She tried to kill me, Alina!”

in

“And I can’t believe you're willing to abandon my friend in need!” Alina screams
4/8

MORE IT WICH

In His Eyes Indifference

back, her voice echoing through the cabin as her eyes burn with unshed tears
out of anger. In an instant, my anger vanishes, and all I can think about is
approaching her and pleading for her forgiveness. Alina’s throat clears, and she
averts her eyes from me, pinching the bridge of her nose in discomfort. “She’s
not herself, Zeke. We help her, and we do it together.”

Just as I'm about to speak, Alina beats me to it, her words filling the air before
mine can escape.

Alina’s focus shifts from me to Ettie, her eyes unwavering.

“I need some time alone, Zeke. Please. Get out.”

“I won't.” I tell her, eyes on Ettie. “You can be mad at me all you want, but I won't
leave you alone with her.”

I could see in Alina’s eyes that she recognized the seriousness of my words.
Without a word, she turns away from me and begins to sob. As much as I want to
comfort her, I don’t want her to think that I'm agreeing with what she wants. She
can have anything she wants from me, as long as her well-being is not
compromised.

Silence lingered in the air, thick and tangible, following the intense exchange of
emotions between Alina and me. Her tears fell softly, filling the room with our
conflicting feelings. It's been intense, but now there's this weird calmness in the
air.

With her shoulders hunched, Alina’s tear—streaked cheeks are visible to me. The
gap between us has grown wider, and I yearn to utter words, any words, to mend
it. But I can’t find the right words to say because of all the tension between us.
As I contemplate the fractured space between us, a sound breaks the oppressive
quiet-a soft rumbling, like distant thunder. At first, I mistook it for the low grow! of
an animal just outside the cabin. But then it returns, impossible to ignore and
utterly tangible—the rumbling of her hungry stomach.

I turn my gaze toward Alina, her stomach growling loudly. I catch a glimpse of her
downcast eyes, intentionally avoiding mine, and a wave of guilt washes over me.
She must be upset, her growling stomach a testament to her hunger, while I sit
here

5/8

In His Eyes Indifference

like an unspoken observer.

Visit Novelxo.org to read full content.

In an attempt to break the heavy

silence, I find myself drawn towards

the table, where a basket of ripe

fruits, generously provided by a

sponsor days ago, beckons me.

Apples. oranges, and a bunch of

grapes. As I pluck a couple of fruits, I
cautiously approach Alina, carefully
offering them to her. I notice that she
avoids making eye contact with me,

her attention seemingly fixated on
something in the distance. I clear my
throat, shattering the stillness that

hangs in the air. The content is on
Novelxo.org! Read the latest

chapter there!

“You should eat something.”

She remains silent, her attention solely focused on the enticing fruits in my
outstretched hand. I worry for a moment that she might reject the offer, but then
her stomach growls again, the sound echoing through the cabin, a clear
indication of her hunger.

With a hesitant gesture, Alina accepts the fruits from my outstretched hand. It's a
wordless exchange, where our eyes do all the talking. She murmurs a quiet
response, barely audible, as I slowly back away to allow her some space.
“Thank you.”

Visit Novelxo.org to read full content.

I nod, acknowledging her gratitude,

and discreetly make my way to a

corner of the room, granting her the
solitude she appears to desire. The

soft crunching sound of her biting

into an apple punctuates the

stillness. I watch her from a distance,

the dance of shadows playing on her

face as she consumes the fruit in

silence. The content is on
Novelxo.org! Read the latest

chapter there!

Visit Novelxo.org to read full content.

Minutes pass by, and the only sounds
that break the silence in the room are

the occasional faint whispers of the
forest outside. With the last bite of

the apple, Alina looks up at me. Her

eyes, once clouded with tears, now

hold a flicker of something
else—resignation, perhaps. I offer a

slight smile, attempting to convey a

silent understanding. The content is

on Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!

Silently, Alina stood up and gracefully settled beside me. I sensed her presence
before I saw her, the subtle shift in the air telling me that she was approaching.
My body remained motionless, but I could feel a slight tension in my muscles as
she settled down and leaned her head against my shoulder.

6/8

I could feel her warmth seeping into my skin, comforting and soothing. Unsure of
how to navigate this newfound closeness, I couldn't help but feel a slight tension
Her voice, a gentle murmur, broke the silence of the tranquil cabin.

“Im sorry for everything. But I need you to understand. I can’t just leave Ettie like
that. I would hate myself if I let her die when I have all the means to stop it.”

I wanted to be angry, to demand that she prioritize our relationship over Ettie’s
well-being. Still, there was an undeniable sincerity in her plea that I couldn't
ignore. Lexhaled heavily, my breath becoming one with the heavy, uneasy
atmosphere in

the room

Tes

“... just don’t want to see you hurt. The bitch- sorry. I mean, she tried to kill

She shifted beside me, the subtle rustling of fabric echoing her restlessness.
“Zeke, I get it. I do. But Ettie’s not herself. Something happened to her, and she’s
not in control. I can’t abandon her now, not when she needs us the most.”

“...I can’t promise that I'll be okay with this.”

For a brief moment, she said nothing, her gaze unwavering. Then, she took a
deep breath, her words escaping her lips like a gentle whisper.

“I know it's not easy, and I can't ask you to accept it right away. But please, try to
understand. Please?”

Initially, I choose to stay quiet, but eventually, I release a sigh and tenderly press
my lips against the side of her head.

Then, I lie.

“Okay.”