Third Person’s POV


    The finance office had three rooms, and Adide usually worked in one separately. So when she called for Avery, it was in this private room.


    Adide noticed Avery, in his ckthorn Pack warrior uniform, looked more dashing than before, <b>with </b>less of his old street–gang vibe.


    It seemed working in a powerful pack could really transform a person.


    But then Avery plopped down, pen in mouth, and mumbled, “What’s up? I’m swamped.”


    Adide, resting her head on her hand, silently retracted her earlier thought–no, he was the same old Avery.


    “The wages for Paige and Georgina–they say they don’t want them, but work shouldn’t go unrewarded. I’m giving their wages to you. You send it back to Instructor Irene. Say it’s a bonus for your good work, not their wages.”


    “Can’t Paige and Georgina know?” Avery asked.


    “No. Just say it’s for you,” Adide said, wiping the pen on his uniform. “Don’t damage books or pens.”


    Avery looked at her, eyes wide. “You’ve changed. Remember when you said weapons shouldn’t be damaged, yet you ruined so many pens, turning them into arrows? Instructor Irene beat you up, and you limped for half a month.”


    Adide’s face flushed. “Let’s not talk about that. Just send it back.”


    “Alright,” Avery agreed, knowing Paige and Georgina had endured much in Soulrend Pack.


    “But if I take this money, you can’t tell Paige and Georgina, or I’ll haunt you.”


    “I won’t say a word. Just make sure you don’t bber when you’re drunk in front of Paisley,” Adide said, opening the cab and taking out a check. “Send fifty thousand first…”


    She pulled back a bit. “Make it fifty thousand. Eighty is too much; Irene will get suspicious. The rest can go at year’s end.”


    Avery took it with a grin. “Actually, fifty thousand will still make her suspicious. She thinks I’m good for nothing. The million I got from the battlefield was all thanks to you guys.”


    He folded the check and said, “By the way, one of Caldwell’s informants in Bloodmoon Pack reported that Alpha Howell sent a note to Velda, but we don’t know what it said.”


    Adide was surprised. “Caldwell has informants in Bloodmoon Pack?”


    “Yep. We’ve got people in many nobles‘ and packs estates in the capital, though some aren’t deeply embedded,” Avery exined.


    “Why are you telling me this? Shouldn’t you inform Caldwell?” Adide asked.


    C


    Avery shrugged. “Craig’s been in the study since he arrived. I figured since you’re close <b>to </b><b>Alpha </b>Lance you could pass it on.”


    Adide was taken aback. “Why would the informant report to you? Is this your responsibility? Is Caldwell really relying on you that much?”


    Avery boasted, “Sure. Caldwell thinks I’m rough but meticulous, so he handed over the informant- handling task.”


    With that, he did a few backflips and left


    Adide stared, stunned.


    She always thought Avery was like a wild monkey, suited for training warriors, not for delicate <b>tasks </b>like handling informants.


    If something went wrong here, <i>it </i>could ruin every


    She reported to Lance, who was lounging in a recliner. “So Caldwell’s been cing informants everywhere?” she asked.


    Lance leaned back in the chair and pulled her over, letting her sit beside him. “Yep, we slipped people in everywhere we could. Somended as maids or footmen, a few got close to the masters, others signed on as guards.”


    Adide blinked, surprised. “That fast?”


    She tilted her head, studying his handsome face. “So the quiet spell was just youying this groundwork?”


    He exined, “We have plenty of people, but we can’t tantly spy. This method’s simple but effective. Our people are well–trained.”


    “Madison’s been doing the same,” Adide said.”


    Lance nodded. “But the old–school packs and nobles have principles. Their ancestors earned their status through loyalty and merit. They still follow their creeds.”


    “They’d never back a coup unless they had no choice. Take Soulrend–Dwight’s a mess, but the pack itself can’t be bought. So the only move left is to break <i>it</i>.”


    Adide nodded. “I figured. Once Dwight ran off with Wilorina and his name turned <i>to </i>mud, the pack’s star was gone–no heir, no future. After he snapped and hurt Melinda, the hammer fell. Unless another kid rises to Dwight’s old level, Soulrend Pack is toast.”