Tempted By My Ex's Brother-in-Law (Aria and Grayson) novel Chapter 206

Chapter 206

Aria’s POV

Pain throbbed through every inch of my body as I forced myself to sit up.

I sucked in a sharp breath and waited for the dizziness to pass. My vision swam for a few seconds before slowly clearing.

The first thing I did was check myself over. My hands trembled as I ran them across my arms, my ribs, my legs.

Scratches. Bruises. A’nasty ache in my lower back.

But nothing felt broken.

“…Thank the Moon Goddess,” I whispered hoarsely.

Compared to what could’ve happened, this was almost a miracle.

The stream beside me murmured softly, cold water glinting faintly in the dying light. I dragged myself away from it, teeth chattering as the wet fabric clung to my skin. Every movement hurt, but adrenaline kept me upright.

The hunt should’ve ended by now.

That thought sent a wave of unease through me. The competition had a strict time limit. Once it was over, the forest would no longer be monitored the same way. Anyone still inside was fair game–especially me.

I had to get back to the camping site.

I stood still for a moment, forcing myself to calm down. Panic wouldn’t help. My pistol was still strapped to my thigh, thank God. I checked the chamber. A few bullets left.

Better than nothing.

I scanned my surroundings. My best bet might be to find a way back to where I fell. But the cliff above me looked way too steep. There was no way I could climb it without my wolf.

Out of options, I started walking along the stream.

The stream eventually led back into the forest. I felt like I was moving uphill, Maybe I could loop back to the top of the cliff? But I couldn’t be sure. I didn’t even know if I was going in the right direction. I wanted to call out for Grayson or Eren, but I was also afraid that shouting might attract unknown dangers.

I walked like that for over an hour, maybe two. I was exhausted, so I stopped by a patch of thick bushes. Night dew had gathered on the leaves. I leaned in, sucking on them for moisture.

I wondered how everyone else would react to my disappearance.

Tasmin and Morrigan would no doubt be thrilled. They probably even thought that falling from a cliff was a way too easy death for me.

Alpha Thalira wouldn’t feel a damn thing about me since I was just a pawn for her. Eren would probably be furious but again, we had just known each other for a few days. His feelings wouldn’t last.

…Only Grayson.

Right now, the one person I was absolutely certain would come back for me was Grayson.

Our bond is too profound. I would probably never recover from the hurt he caused me, but I would never deny the depth of

Chapter 206

his feelings for me.

A powerful surge of emotion welled up inside me. I sniffled.

So what was he doing right now? Sending all his soldiers into the forest to look for me? Mobilizing every available helicopter? Ordering no one to leave until I was found? It definitely sounded like something Grayson would do.

Suddenly-

A deep, rumbling sound rolled through the forest.

I froze.

It wasn’t a howl. Not a werewolf.

It was heavier. Slower. Dangerous.

My blood ran cold.

king

The sound came again. Closer this time. Branches cracking under massive weight. I suddenly remembered what Tasmin said about this forest having many dangerous animals.

It was a bear.

I wasn’t going to wait around to run into it. Taking down a bear isn’t too hard for a grown werewolf. But I didn’t have my wolf. Even a hungry wild boar would be dangerous for me right now.

So I turned and slipped silently in the opposite direction, forcing myself not to run. Running would only draw attention.

My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears.

I kept low, weaving through dense bushes, holding my breath whenever the noise grew louder. Every instinct screamed at me to flee, but I moved carefully, step by step, until the sound gradually faded into the distance.

Only then did I allow myself to breathe.

My hands were shaking.

I wanted to gently rise from the bushes I was hiding in to see if the coast was clear. But the next second-

A sudden force slammed into my

back!

I cried out as I was thrown to the ground, leaves and dirt filling my mouth. Before I could roll away, a heavy knee pinned me down.

“Well, well,” a male voice sneered above me. “Look what I found.”

My heart dropped.

I twisted violently, managing to roll onto my side. A man stood over me, tall and broad, his eyes gleaming with a deadly chill in the darkness.

I didn’t even need an introduction.

Another competitor.

“Get the hell away from me!” I hissed, scrambling backward.

He laughed, a harsh sound. “Too bad we don’t have enough time. Otherwise, we could have some real fun. They were right,

wea, Jan 7

Chapter 206

you really are pretty.”

I pushed myself up, pistol raised with trembling hands. “Back off.”

But he didn’t look afraid. If anything, he looked thrilled.

“General Tasmin is right about you,” he said fervently. “A bitch like you belongs in the red district, in a fucking whorehouse. You showing up in the Packhouse is an insult to the entire Frostpine Pack. You should die!”

My stomach twisted. “What do you know about Tasmin, huh? You think she’s a patriot, but I’m telling you she’s a liar! She lied about her victory. She caused the deaths of thousands of innocent soldiers. I have proof-”

“Shut up!” he roared, his expression twisted with rage. “Lies! You’re trying to smear her name because you’re scared.”

“I’m telling the truth!” I shouted. “She doesn’t care about this pack. She only wants power. You’re swearing loyalty to the wrong person!”

He lunged.

I fired.

The shot went wide, the recoil jolting my arm painfully. He slammed into me before I could fire again, knocking the gun from my hand. It skidded across the forest floor and vanished into the undergrowth.

I screamed and kicked, but he caught my ankle and yanked hard. I crashed down again, pain exploding through my spine.

“You should’ve stayed dead when you fell from that cliff. That would probably be easier,” he snarled, wrapping his hands. around my throat.

My vision darkened as he squeezed. I clawed at his wrists, gasping, my lungs burning.

I couldn’t overpower him.

I knew it.

Desperation flooded me, raw and terrifying. My thoughts scattered wildly–Grayson, Eren, my mother, the wolf I’d lost.

I don’t want to die.

The thought echoed again and again, louder each time.

I REFUSE TO GIVE IN.

I REFUSE TO CAVE TO THOSE BASTARDS.

Something deep inside me stirred.

At first, it was just heat. Then pain–sharp, searing, ripping through my bones and muscles.

I screamed, my voice breaking into something feral as my body convulsed.

The man staggered back, startled. “What the hell-”

I barely heard him. My senses exploded.

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