The sun filtering through the silk curtains wasn't a ray of hope, but a harsh light that highlighted the reality of my situation. The luxurious bed was just furniture in my gilded cage, and the breathtaking view, a window to a world I no longer belonged to. I replayed Orion in my dreams, his piercing blue eyes, his sharp words. I felt like I'd been swallowed by a wave, and now, I was stranded on an unknown shore.
An hour later, the door opened silently. Orion stood there, already dressed in dark athletic wear, his muscles taut beneath the fabric. He said nothing. He simply looked at me, his icy gaze sweeping the room, then motioned for me to follow him. Silence was his weapon.
He led me to the high-tech gym. The scent of leather and cold metal filled my lungs. Orion tossed me a set of athletic clothes and pointed to an adjoining room. "Change." It was an order. I didn't argue.
When I returned, dressed in shorts and a tank top that left little to the imagination, he began to speak. His voice was colder and sharper than ever. "The contract is simple, Lyra. You saw me save you. But you didn't see where the threat came from. The client at the bar was just a pawn. A far more powerful organization was after you. The debt is your life. And my protection comes at a price."
He stood in front of a leather punching bag, wrapping his hands in bandages. "I'm not just going to hide you here. They will find you. The only way out is to become as strong as those who are pursuing you. Your training starts now. You will learn to fight, to defend yourself, to survive."
I swallowed, my fear intensifying. "I... I don't know how to do any of that."
A cruel smile split his face. It wasn't amusement, but pure predation. "This isn't a suggestion. It's the contract. And if you don't honor the terms, you won't be the only one who pays the price."
He struck the punching bag with phenomenal force. The dull thud echoed in the room, a clear warning of what awaited me. My life as a waitress was over. My new life as prey began at that very moment.