Tempted By My Ex's Brother-in-Law (Aria and Grayson) novel Chapter 175

Chapter 175

Aria’s Perspective

Rhys’s strange warning haunted me throughout the night, leaving me restless and unable to find peace in sleep. What did he mean by “watch out for the birds”? Was it some kind of literal danger—dangerous birds that might attack me? Could there really be man-eating birds here, ready to peck out my eyes? Or was it a cryptic message, a metaphor I hadn’t yet deciphered?

Despite my racing thoughts, exhaustion finally claimed me just before dawn. When morning arrived, I decided to set aside the confusing warning and turn my attention to something far more tangible—the gun I had received. This wasn’t just any weapon; it was a symbol of progress, a step forward in my journey.

Now that the gun was firmly in my grasp, I no longer felt like the invisible nobody I once was, the bastard child overlooked by everyone. Holding this weapon meant real power—a power that could bring me closer to the goals I had been chasing for so long.

As the maids bustled into my room, eager to dress me in some elegant gown, I stopped them with a firm shake of my head. “Choose something practical,” I instructed. “I’m heading to the training grounds today.”

This was my moment to wield the authority I’d been granted.

In the end, I settled on a sharp, tailored jacket paired with form-fitting trousers that accentuated my figure, and tall boots that added a confident stride to my step. Before leaving, I took a long look at myself in the mirror. Gone was the nervous girl in a delicate gown who had faced Grayson just six months ago. In her place stood someone far more self-assured—and I liked this version of me much better.

The driver took me to the training grounds nestled at the base of the mountain, near the packhouse. As I arrived, soldiers were lined up on the range, practicing their marksmanship with focused intensity.

The moment I stepped onto the grounds, every pair of eyes snapped toward me.

I placed my hands behind my back, offering a calm smile. “Good morning,” I greeted them.

Silence answered me.

The soldiers stood rigid, their faces unreadable, as if I were an unwelcome stranger intruding on their domain.

Just as I was about to decide what command to issue, a sharp voice cut through the stillness from behind.

“What the hell are you doing here?!”

I spun around to see Tamsin and Maeve striding toward me, their expressions fierce, with tearful Sable trailing behind.

Maeve reached me first, her glare icy. “Get out of my training field, you filthy piece of trash.”

I met her gaze steadily, a cold smile curling my lips. “This isn’t your training field. Remember? It belongs to Alpha Thalira. And she gave me permission to be here.”

Maeve’s anger twisted her face. “Since when did she authorize you—”

“Have you already forgotten what happened yesterday?” I interrupted, pulling the gun from my holster. “This gun gives me command over all Frostpine Pack soldiers. At least, that’s what Alpha Thalira told me.”

Sable, standing quietly to the side, spoke up in a small voice. “It’s true. I was there yesterday. Mother did say something like that…”

“SHUT UP! You don’t know anything, so keep your mouth shut!” Tamsin snapped at her harshly.

Sable instantly clamped her lips shut, her eyes wide with fear. Tamsin turned back to me, her voice dripping with scorn.

“Mother was just deceived by your lies. That’s the only reason she gave you that gun. But no one here will listen to you. In this training ground, Maeve and I are the true leaders.”

“That’s right,” Maeve added quickly. “Mother and I have led this army for nearly a decade. I’ve fought alongside these soldiers through life and death—a bond you couldn’t even begin to understand. Don’t think you can just waltz in here with a gun and take charge.”

I lifted the corners of my mouth into a challenging smirk. “So, you want to test that? See which one of us the soldiers will obey?”

Maeve’s eyes blazed with hatred. “You’ll regret this, you bitch. What do you have anyway? A pretty face? A nice body? That might catch a man’s eye, but it means nothing here. Here, you’ll always be that freak with no wolf.”

A few months ago, those words would have cut me deeply. But not anymore.

I had learned that my own willpower was the only thing I could truly rely on when everything else failed. Even without a wolf, I could survive. I was no longer afraid to be called a freak.

With renewed confidence, I gave the mother and daughter one last icy glance before turning to the soldiers.

“On my command—turn and advance north!” I shouted, projecting my voice so every soldier could hear.

For a long moment, nothing happened.

The soldiers stared back at me, expressionless, unmoving, showing no sign they intended to obey. Tamsin let out a mocking laugh. “See? You’re a joke here. No one takes an outsider seriously. You’d better leave while you still can.”

I ignored her taunts and lifted the gun high above my head for all to see.

“Remember this gun?” I called out to the crowd. “Your Alpha recognizes my authority. She sent me here to lead you. So, will you defy her orders or obey me?”

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