Elena's breath hitched the moment Akira pushed her onto the bed. He climbed over her slowly, deliberately, his eyes devouring every inch of her as he began tugging her dress upward—revealing the delicate curves he stared to, not with love, but with lust.

She bit her lip hard, trying to silence the feverish tremble running down her spine.

His hands began tracing every inch of her, and her body, traitorous and confused, reacted. To the heat. To the tension. To the way his wet lips grazed the sensitive skin of her neck, sending involuntary shivers through her.

His palms slid up to her bare breasts which weren't in a bra since she didn't have any. He cupped them, kneaded them, his thumbs pressing against her nipples, teasing them into hardness.

She hated it.

She hated the way her heart pounded louder with every touch against her trembling skin.

"You're mine now," he whispered, voice hoarse and thick with dominance. His fingers slipped lower, hooked around the hem of her panties, and dragged them slowly down her legs, savoring the moment.

Then, with a gentle but possessive touch, he parted her thighs, his eyes fixed on the slightly bushy virgin vagina before him.

Tears rolled down Elena's eyes, but she blinked them away.

She had agreed to this.

She had to. For Suzune's sake.

When he finally entered her, it wasn't slow or careful. She bit her tongue to muffle the cry building in her throat, her hands clenching the sheets as his thick cock pushed through her pussy, claiming her virginity with force.

Blood bloomed against the sheets. Her tears followed, dampening the bed beneath her as she endured every thrust.

She had to endure it.

"You're a strong girl, aren't you?" Akira murmured, his pace deepening, faster and hungrier.

Even as his weight pressed her into the mattress, she clung to the thought that kept her sane:

This is for her. Just get through this night.

Just get through this night.

And so Akira had sex with her until he was satisfied.

She woke up moments later, only to realize she'd passed out. Still naked, she glanced at the mess on the bed—stained, wet.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, unstoppable.

Climbing off the bed, her legs trembled beneath her, the soreness and pain between her thighs threatening to bring her down.

She reached for her clothes and put them on one by one, her hands shaking. From the warehouse hall, she heard laughter—the sound of men chatting casually.

"So she was a virgin, boss?" one of them asked, curiosity in his voice.

"You bet, my boy!" Akira's loud, prideful voice echoed. "And I fucked her good!"

"Aww man… I'm jealous! Let us have our turn with her too!"

"No!" Akira snapped. "I promised her I wouldn't do that. Remember, we're not like Darren and his faction. We don't take things by force. If she agrees to be my wife, she'll be mine alone. And if you want someone, be serious about the hunt. Find your own women!"

Elena didn't know how to feel about that—happy, sad… maybe both. Or neither. In truth, it only left her feeling empty. Like she'd lost a part of herself.

Slowly, she reached for the door, creaking it open. Silence fell as all eyes turned to her. She kept her gaze down and walked toward Akira, stopping in front of him.

"The insulin?" she asked quietly, extending her hand.

Akira looked at her for a moment, a smug grin on his face, then reached into his pocket and pulled out something that resembled a pen.

"This it?" she asked, unsure what insulin even looked like.

"Yeah," Gerald chimed in from the side. "Modern diabetes insulin. You just press it to the patient's abdomen or arm—it'll inject the proper dose. That pen holds about six doses."

She accepted it and studied the pen for a moment.

"What about food?" she asked next.

Akira brought out a loaf of baked bread, half a kilo of sugar, and a bag of tea, handing them to her.

"That's all I can offer. If you need more, you'll have to come back more often. And that insulin would only last her two days. But dont worry. I've got more. You'll get one for every time you sleep in my bed. And before I forget…" He held out a phone. "The only number in here is mine. Keep it with you. Always."

Without a word, she took the phone and the food, then turned to leave.

"Don't you want an escort?" Akira called after her. "It's dangerous out there at night."

She shook her head and kept walking.

She didn't want anyone following her to their secret base. She definitely didn't want Suzune or Shin finding out how she'd managed to get the insulin and food.

Her body ached unbearably, but she kept going—through the dangerous streets in the dead of night.

Thankfully, the old condom factory wasn't far. She made it safely, encountering no trouble along the way. Most people were either dead or holed up in their own hideouts. At this point, there was nothing worth scavenging in the streets anymore.

She reached the hideout, lifted the safe lid, and climbed down with the bag of supplies. Closing it behind her, she made her way through the tunnel and knocked on the door.

"Open up. It's me," she muttered.

Almost immediately, the door swung open. Shin stood there, his eyes wide.

"Elena! You're safe!" he exclaimed, pulling her into a hug. "I… I was so worried." His voice cracked with emotion.

A small smile formed on her lips. It warmed her heart to know someone out there still cared—someone who would worry if she was gone.

"Tadaima (I'm home)," she whispered.

"(welcome)Okaeri!" Suzune called from her bed, rising to her feet. "I made spaghetti! Come eat—we waited for you!"

Elena sat on the bed, watching as Suzune pulled the pot off the stove and began filling their plates.

They hadn't eaten despite their hunger—because they didn't want to eat without her.

She shook her head. They were too kind for their own good.

TBC