Tempted By My Ex's Brother-in-Law (Aria and Grayson) novel Chapter 195

**TITLE: Wore 195**
**Chapter 195**

**Aria’s POV**

The atmosphere in the hall was electric, alive with excitement and anticipation. It was a day like no other, as the Frospine Pack prepared for a military parade—the first of its kind in years. The air was thick with the scent of freshly polished armor and the murmurs of pack members discussing the event, their faces lit with enthusiasm.

Amidst this vibrant energy, Alpha Thalira turned her piercing gaze toward me. “Aria, I need you to assist Tasmin in organizing the parade,” she commanded, her voice firm and unwavering.

A stunned silence enveloped the room. Gasps rippled through the crowd, as if Alpha Thalira had just declared something utterly outrageous. All eyes shifted to her, then to me, their expressions a mix of disbelief and indignation.

I was taken aback, my heart racing. Me? In charge of something so monumental? I had never imagined Alpha Thalira held such faith in my abilities.

Suddenly, the silence shattered as several voices erupted in protest, all at once.

Morrigan stepped forward, her tone dripping with indignation. “Mother, I’ve always been responsible for organizing significant events and managing the pack’s finances. Why am I being sidelined now?”

Tasmin chimed in, her voice laced with venom. “Absolutely not, Mother! I refuse to let that little brat anywhere near my parade! She’ll ruin everything!”

Meave, her eyes wide with frustration, added, “That’s so unfair, Grandmother! If you want one of your grandchildren involved, why can’t it be me?!”

“SHUT UP!!!” Alpha Thalira’s voice thundered through the hall as she slammed her hand against the table, demanding silence.

The room fell into a hushed stillness, the tension palpable. Alpha Thalira took a deep breath, her voice now a low growl. “First of all, Morrigan, I don’t want you anywhere near this parade. I know you’ll just pocket the funds and turn this into a scandal.”

Morrigan’s face twisted into a defiant pout, but she remained silent.

“And Tasmin,” Alpha Thalira continued, her tone sharp as a knife, “this is not YOUR parade. It’s MY parade, and I have the final say. Understood?”

Tasmin muttered curses under her breath, clearly seething but unable to voice her objections.

“Meave, I didn’t select Aria simply because she’s my granddaughter. I chose her because she has no personal agenda tied to any of you. She can be a fair overseer. If I left this event to any of you, it would undoubtedly turn into chaos.”

With that, the room fell silent, no one daring to challenge her authority. Even my family seemed to agree with Alpha Thalira on this matter, a surprising turn of events.

“Aria, come up here,” Alpha Thalira commanded, her tone softer but still authoritative.

I stood up, feeling the weight of countless jealous stares as I walked toward the stage. Each step felt heavy with expectation, but I pushed through, determined to prove myself.

When I reached Alpha Thalira, she scrutinized me with a piercing gaze, assessing my readiness. “So, do you truly want to oversee this event? It won’t be easy, you know.”

I shrugged, a slight smile creeping onto my lips. “Why not? I don’t have anything else occupying my time at the moment.”

In truth, this was fortuitous for me. Being part of the organizing team would allow me to uncover Tasmin’s misdeeds more easily.

“Alpha Corsy kun, ver boven) dialized om coga imkan deal set, se finest varil afai stay de su il aur mūnas parader Alpha That sacked Grayvin,” I thought, pushing aside the distractions.

Grayson’s sharp, grey eyes were fixed on me, and I did my best to ignore the memories flooding back from that storage closet. My stomach twisted with anxiety, feeling as if a thousand butterflies had taken flight within me.

“Crayson said,” he began, breaking my reverie, “I happen to have some unfinished business here as well.”

I couldn’t help but wonder what that business entailed.

“Good,” Alpha Thalira said with a nod. “Then I’ll leave this in your capable hands.”

“One more thing, Alpha Thalira,” I interjected, my voice steady but urgent. “If this military parade turns out to be a massive success, I hope you will finally recognize my identity as the rightful lady of the Frostpine Pack. And please, release my mother.”

The last time I had broached this subject, she had erupted in fury, storming away in a fit of rage.

Yet this time, her reaction was more subdued. Her expression darkened slightly, but after a brief moment of contemplation, she snorted dismissively. “Get the job done first. Then we’ll discuss it.”

She didn’t outright refuse me this time, which felt like a small victory. Perhaps even she was beginning to see that her other children were not as reliable, and I was rapidly becoming the most capable of them all.

There would come a day when she would realize she couldn’t function without me.

I returned to my table, my stomach grumbling in protest as I began to eat. It had been an exhausting day, and I was ravenous. Just as I was halfway through my meal, my phone buzzed beneath the table, breaking my concentration.

It was a message from Rhys.

[Did you get the evidence?]

Her face flushed crimson, and she faltered, unable to form a rebuttal.

She turned her glare toward Torvi. “And what is she doing here? I didn’t invite her!”

“Torvi is also a captain. You excluded her just because she’s close to me. That’s not cool either,” I pointed out, my voice steady as I gestured toward the pile of documents on the table.

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, and then one of the captains cleared his throat. “We were just discussing the pre-parade entertainment activities. Lady Tasmin thinks we should host a live hunt on-site.”

At first, it didn’t sound too terrible, but knowing Tasmin, I knew she wouldn’t suggest anything ordinary.

“And the prey for that hunt… would be real people.”

My heart dropped. “Real what?”

“Real people!” Tasmin exclaimed, a twisted sense of pride evident in her voice. “Our prisons are overflowing with criminals. Keeping them locked up is just a waste of resources. So I say we skip the trials and throw them into the hunt for our amusement.”

What the actual hell?!

Rage surged through me, and I leaped to my feet, my voice rising. “Some of those prisoners are in there for petty crimes—bar fights or stealing a loaf of bread! And you want to hunt them down like they’re animals?”

Tasmin shrugged, her expression utterly dismissive. “So what? They’re just lowly commoners. I know our noble guests are tired of hunting animals. They’ll find this far more entertaining.”

I inhaled sharply, my resolve hardening. “No way in hell. I’m using my veto. This is barbaric.”

The room erupted in angry protests, the captains voicing their discontent. A few remained silent, their discomfort palpable, but most glared at me with hostility. It was no surprise; Tasmin’s supporters were just as sadistic as she was.

“Brutal? This shows how weak you are!” one captain yelled, his voice dripping with contempt. “A strong, fearless warrior like Lady Tasmin could come up with such a brilliant plan. You’re weak, like a little sheep. Get out of here!”

I let out a mocking laugh, pulling out my phone and opening a video. I turned it toward them, displaying the footage from earlier at the club. It captured how Torvi had easily overpowered Tasmin, forcing her to her knees and slapping her across the face.

“See!” I exclaimed, a cold smile spreading across my lips as I surveyed the stunned faces of the captains. “Your so-called pure-blooded warrior can’t even defeat my captain. She was just humiliated like an omega. I say Tasmin Avery is the most useless piece of trash in this room!”

The tension in the air was thick, and I could feel the weight of their gazes, but I stood my ground, ready to fight for what was right.