The setting sun painted Chicago's skyline in blood as Zhan Xuan moved through the decaying city, his boots crunching over broken glass and dried viscera. The air stank of rot, but he barely noticed anymore—hadn't for years. Survival had burned away his sense of smell, replacing it with something sharper: the ability to scent fear, to track prey, to know when someone was watching him.

He was hunting tonight. Not zombies—they were too easy, too mindless. He was hunting supplies. Medical supplies, specifically. The Civic Bastion was running low, and while he didn't care about most of the weak fools hiding there, he needed them alive. For now.

The hospital loomed ahead, its broken windows like empty eye sockets staring into the dying light. Perfect place for scavengers. Perfect place for him to take what he wanted.

Zhan Xuan moved silently through the lobby, his rifle held loosely at his side. He didn't need to be quiet for the dead—they were already here, their guttural moans echoing through the halls. He needed to be quiet for the living. The ones who might try to take his supplies. The ones who might have something—someone—worth taking.

Third floor, west wing. The pharmacy storeroom. He could smell it before he saw it—the faint chemical scent of sealed antibiotics, untouched by rot.

He kicked the door open, rifle rising instantly. Empty. Good.

Zhan Xuan moved inside, scanning the room quickly before zeroing in on his target: an unopened case tucked behind a fallen shelf. Antibiotics. Still sealed. Still good.

He grinned, a predatory expression that didn't reach his eyes. Jackpot.

Then he heard it—a soft intake of breath, barely audible over the distant moans of the infected. Zhan Xuan spun, rifle trained on the shadows.

"Come out," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Before I make you."

A figure emerged, hands raised—small, female, dirty. Her clothes were ragged, her face smudged with dust, but her eyes... Her eyes were alive with fear and defiance. Zhan Xuan's cock twitched at the sight. Perfect.

"Well, well," he said, lowering his rifle slowly. "Looks like I found something more interesting than drugs."

She took a step back, her throat working as she tried to speak. "I—"

"Shhh," he interrupted, taking a step toward her. "Don't beg yet. I haven't decided what I'm going to do with you."

Gunfire erupted from below, followed by screams. Zhan Xuan cursed. His supposed 'team' had found trouble.

He didn't hesitate. In three strides, he was on her, one hand clamping around her wrist, the other pressing against her lower back, forcing her against him. She gasped at the contact, her body stiffening.

"Move," he ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Unless you want to be zombie food."

He didn't wait for her response, dragging her toward the back exit as more shots echoed through the building. They raced down the stairs, her smaller frame stumbling to keep up with his long strides.

When they finally burst outside, into the cool night air, Zhan Xuan didn't slow down. He kept hold of her, his fingers digging into her flesh, a silent reminder of who was in control.

"Who are you?" she panted, trying to keep up.

Zhan Xuan stopped abruptly, spinning her around so her back pressed against the rough brick wall of the hospital. He placed one hand beside her head, leaning in close so she could feel his breath against her face.

"I'm the man who just saved your life," he said, his lips inches from hers. "Which makes you mine."

Before she could respond, he captured her mouth in a brutal kiss, all teeth and dominance, claiming her as thoroughly as he would claim the supplies he'd come for.

When he finally pulled away, her lips were swollen and her eyes were wide, a mixture of fear and something else—something that made his blood heat. Desire.

"Zhan Xuan," he told her, his voice low and possessive. "Remember that name. It's the only one that will matter from now on."

He stepped back, keeping his eyes on her as he shouldered his rifle.

"Now move. And don't even think about running. I always catch what's mine."