Page 11 of Sworn to Revenge
“Bay, what’s going on with you? Since when do you act like this?” I ask cautiously, but Alin grabs my hand, giving me a nod that signals I shouldn’t press further.
“You too now? Get out, both of you!” Bay suddenly shouts, waving her hand in a dismissive gesture.
I look at Alin, confused, and she motions for me to leave my room with her.
“What’s with all the secret glances? Now you want Pedro too?” Bay snarls, her voice razor-sharp as she shoves Alin back with a venomousglare. This is definitelynotBay.
I move toward her, ready to intervene, but Alin stops me, raising her hand. Her power flares, and I watch in horror as a choking force grips Bay’s throat, silencing her. A strangled sound escapes, and the look of pure fear on Bay’s face twists my gut.
“What are you doing?” My voice rises, raw with anger as I grasp what Alin’s doing. I try to grab Alin’s hands, but I’m suddenly thrown backward, slamming into the door. Pain shoots up from my tailbone, and a few curses slip out under my breath.
“You’re going to kill her! This pregnancy has driven you mad!” I shout, struggling against the force holding me in place.
Bay collapses, unconscious, and Alin finally releases her grip. She lets out a heavy sigh as if releasing the burden, but the chill between us lingers, thick and suffocating.
I rush to her side, panic seizing me. I lean close, desperately checking her breathing. My breath finally escapes in relief—she’s still alive. “What the hell?” My voice shakes as I spin to face Alin, fury boiling beneath my skin. I grab her collar, yanking her up.
“Pedro, take your hand off her now if you want to keep it,” Luca’s threatening voice comes from the doorway. Alin and I both turn, surprised to see him there.
How can he defend her when Bay is lying here unconscious? Has my brother really become this blinded by his wife?
I reluctantly release Alin’s collar and turn to Luca. “She knocked Bayout! You need to rein in your wife—pregnancy hormones are making her lose it!” I spit, fury boiling over. Luca’s glare cuts into me.
“Are you done with your childish theatrics?” Alin interrupts, pulling her gaze from Luca back to me. “That wasn’t Bay; something is controlling her. Until it lets go, we can’t keep her conscious.”
Luca wraps his arms around her, but I can barely register it. Alin’s words repeat in my mind:something is controlling her.Did she just saysomeonehas control over Bay?
“I don’t understand. How is that possible? There’s no one here but us,” I ask, forcing myself to calm down. Now isn’t the time to push Luca any further; he could decide to send Bay away for good.
“I don’t know what it is either,” Alin says, visibly tense. “Bay was with the Hunters’ pod for months. Maybe she made some enemies along the way?”
“So what do we do now?” I ask, focusing on the most urgent question.
“Until this influence wears off, we won’t get anything out of Bay. She needs to be left alone for the night.” Alin’s calm suggestion sends an unfamiliar chill through me. Leave her alone like this? Am I the only one thinking straight?
“Pedro, I know you care about her, but it’s too risky if she wakes up in this state. She could hurt you, too,” Alin adds, like she’s reading my thoughts.
I give Bay’s unconscious body one last look before following Luca and Alin out. Luca locks the door and hands Alin the key.
“If you ever threaten my wife again,” he warns, “Bay will be the least of your worries.” I sigh. There’s no reasoning with him when it comes to Alin—he’s not thinking logically. But then again, nothing about the world they come from has ever made sense.
“Now, are you ready to explain why you did that?” I avoid looking at my brother and aim my question directly at Alin.
“Pedro,” Luca starts, his tone hardening with another threat, but I refuse to back down. My eyes stay locked onto Alin’s.
“As I said, something is controlling her. She wasn’t speaking logically, and whatever it is, it’s only affecting her—I didn’t hear a thing. Whoever’s doing it has her entirely under their influence right now,” Alin explains, her voice suddenly cracking. Her gaze darts to the locked door, eyes widening as if searching for an answer she knows she won’t find. Her chest rises and falls with uneven breaths, but she quickly forces herself to stand taller.
I feel a wave of anger surge through me. Who the hell dares to hurt her?
But then the truth hits me:It’s not my job to care anymore.
“So I’m supposed to just accept this and leave her unconscious in a locked room?” I ask, fists clenched tight. My voice comes out harsher than intended, betraying the anger rising within me.
“Pedro, Bay is my family too. I wouldn’t have done this if I had a choice. I’ll do whatever it takes to find answers,” Alin replies, placing a hand on my shoulder, though her eyes look distant. “But there’s nothing you can do here. If you get too close, she might take control of you. Even I struggled to resist her voice.”
Her attempt at reassurance only makes my frustration simmer hotter. Isigh, knowing this is a battle I’m losing for now. At least she’s locked in my apartment, and I’ll be here when she wakes up.
“You’re sleeping with us tonight,” Alin declares, her tone leaving no room for argument.
