Tempted By My Ex's Brother-in-Law (Aria and Grayson) novel Chapter 177

Chapter 177

Tamsin’s mouth dropped open so wide it looked like she could fit an entire egg inside. She was utterly unprepared for my bold move—clearly, I had caught her completely off guard by speaking first.

After a moment of stunned silence, she exploded, “What the hell did you just say? Throw me in jail? Are you out of your mind?”

I held her gaze steadily, my tone calm but firm. “No, I’m not crazy. I saw exactly how you treated your own soldiers. That’s not the behavior of a general. Honestly, Alpha Thalira shouldn’t just lock you up—she should strip you of your command altogether.”

Her eyes flashed with fury. “Attack my soldiers? Who did I attack? When did that happen?”

I shifted my attention to the young girl sitting quietly in the corner. “Sable. She’s one of your soldiers, isn’t she? I witnessed you humiliating her, treating her like she was worthless.”

A heavy silence settled over the room. Both Tamsin and Maeve’s faces drained of color, their expressions turning pale.

“Tamsin?” Alpha Thalira’s voice boomed through the dining hall. “What exactly happened this afternoon? I thought you were training with Sable.”

Tamsin rose slowly, swallowing hard as nervousness crept over her. “Mother, nothing really happened. I don’t know what Aria’s talking about. She clearly hates me and is just making things up…”

Alpha Thalira ignored the protest and turned toward Sable. “Sable, you tell me.”

Her youngest daughter bit her lip, her face ghostly pale. She hesitated, voice barely above a whisper. Alpha Thalira’s patience wore thin as Sable finally stammered, “I-I don’t know… please don’t ask me…”

I stepped in, raising my voice a little, “You can tell them. Remember what I said? Sometimes, standing strong is the only way to make the bullying stop.”

But Sable lowered her head even further, tears falling onto the tabletop. “Please don’t ask me, Aria… just don’t…”

Tamsin sneered, “See? Even Sable doesn’t know what you’re talking about. Because nothing happened. This whole story about me attacking my soldiers is a lie.”

Maeve jumped in, her tone sharp and defensive, “That’s right, Grandmother. You know how much we’re loved by the army. Otherwise, how could we have won so many battles? Aria’s barely been here, and she’s already trying to ruin our reputation. Are you going to let that happen?”

I glanced at Sable, hoping she would back me up, but it was clear I had overestimated her bravery.

As the atmosphere turned against me, Morrigan spoke up, her voice dripping with resentment, still bitter about my threat to her sons. “Aria Collins is nothing but trouble. Since she arrived, this packhouse hasn’t known a moment’s peace. Rumors, murder plots, schemes—it’s all her fault. She’s worse than her mother ever was…”

I cut her off sharply. “Shut your filthy mouth, or I’ll deal with you the same way I did your sons.”

“Oh my god, a direct threat—and I’m at least your aunt—”

“Enough!” Alpha Thalira slammed her hand on the table, silencing everyone immediately.

Her sharp gaze swept across the room before settling on me.

“Aria,” she said coldly, “the thing I despise most is being lied to. You won’t like the consequences.”

It was true—I hadn’t expected Sable to back out, and she was my only witness.

Everyone in the room looked certain I was finished. Smug, triumphant smiles began to spread across their faces.

But I was ready.

“A video went viral this afternoon,” I said, pulling out my phone and placing it on Alpha Thalira’s desk. “I thought you might want to see it.”

The screen showed a video titled: [The Best Shooter I’ve Ever Seen. Frostpine Pack’s Military Has Hope!]

It captured me aiming my gun, with Sable standing tens of paces away, an apple balanced on her head. A moment later, I fired, perfectly shattering the apple in one shot.

The comments below were just as glowing. Nearly everyone was praising me.

[Is that Aria Collins, the new lady of Frostpine Pack? The girl who was almost made an Omega? I had no idea she was this strong and captivating!]

[Has anyone else noticed she’s become even more stunning and commanding since becoming a noble? I’d marry her in a heartbeat.]

[Dream on, jerk. Aria Collins isn’t some poor, helpless girl anymore. Now only the strongest Alpha deserves her—and they’ll have to fight for her attention.]

The rest of the family gathered around to watch the video. Their expressions soured, especially after reading the glowing comments about me.

“The best shooter? Frostpine Pack’s military has hope?” Maeve’s face twisted with anger. “My mother and I have led this army for years! If anyone can revive the military, it’s us—”

Alpha Thalira looked up, her eyes icy. “Yet all anyone sees from you is cruelty—using your own aunt for target practice, not caring if she lives or dies like some psychopath. Only Aria has brought positive attention to our pack.”

“Reward her again?” Morrigan blurted out. “You just gave her a gun, Mother…”

She quickly fell silent under Alpha Thalira’s sharp glare but continued to shoot me venomous looks.

What reward?

I hesitated.

Honestly, there was only one thing I truly wanted—but I wasn’t sure if it would backfire. Still, this felt like the right moment. I might as well take the chance.

“I want you to publicly recognize me as Frostpine Pack’s Lady. And free my mother, Lady Quentina,” I said.

Alpha Thalira’s pupils narrowed sharply, as if she’d just heard something deeply unpleasant. I immediately knew I’d asked for the wrong thing. But there was no turning back now, so I met her gaze without flinching.

“Free Quentina?” she repeated, her voice strained.

“Yes. She did nothing wrong. She only defied you to help me—but it turns out I’m your blood too. So she’s innocent. Why is she still locked up?”

“Because she defied me. That’s all there is to it,” Alpha Thalira said sharply, her breathing growing ragged. “It’s not the first time. Years ago, she defied me to be with your father and have you. Clearly, she has no respect for me as her Alpha or her mother—”

“And you slashed her face. Wasn’t that punishment enough?” I snapped, my voice rising before I could stop it. “The fools standing here have defied you countless times, and you’ve let it slide. Why? Because you prefer your children stupid?”

BANG!

A cup flew past my ear, shattering against a nearby pillar.

“Until you learn to respect me, I will never recognize you as a Lady of Frostpine Pack,” she said, looking down at me.

“Why?” I demanded, my temper flaring. “Because you’re a tyrant who doesn’t care about family?”

A collective gasp echoed through the room.

And just like that, I knew—I had seriously messed up.