Lilith didn’t ask unnecessary questions.
That was one of the reasons I had begun trusting her more than the others who had been assigned to serve . She simply nodded after I gave the order, her posture straightening as if she had just received a military command.
"I understand, Luna," she said. "Do you want information only about their current lives in the pack, or also about their lives before they married into it?"
"Everything," I replied imdiately.
Lilith was stunned slightly at the firmness in my voice, but she didn’t say anything about it.
"Then I will need access to the pack archives," she said thoughtfully. "Marriage records, family backgrounds, migration history... those docunts are kept in the administrative office."
"Yes. The administrative staff reports to the Beta’s office, but Lady Bernice’s authority still reaches there. Since I am officially assigned to you, they won’t deny my request."
That was more convenient that I had expected. Especially now that I had gone to see Lady Bernice and left unscathed. They would assu Lilith was on a mission assigned by the forr Luna.
In this way, I could also avoid the lilight because they won’t know that I am the one snooping around.
I leaned back in the chair beside my desk, watching Lilith as she spoke.
It made feel like I was beginning to build sothing of my own. Even though it was within the pack I had been dying to leave.
Even though I was starting with the most basic form of building power, information.
However, moving through dark corridors to hide from my tornters over the years has taught one thing. Information is the most reliable kind of power.
"How long will it take?" I asked.
"If I work overnight, I can prepare a preliminary report by tomorrow evening."
"That fast?"
I was surprised because there were many people in the pack and finding their information and arranging it would definitely take a lot of ti. I had thought that she would need at least a week.
Lilith’s lips twitched slightly. Probably because of my reaction.
"I used to assist Lady Bernice’s administrative team before being transferred to your service. Organizing information is part of my specialty."
That answer made wonder if I had backed the wrong tree.
Could she be the spy? Why would Lady Bernice give such a competent helper to ? However, I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.
"Good," I said. "Then you can start tonight."
Lilith nodded again.
However, instead of leaving imdiately, she hesitated for a mont.
Sothing about her expression had changed.
"Luna... may I ask sothing?"
"Go ahead. Feel free to ask anything."
"Why do you need that information?"
I don’t know why she asked when she always just did what she is told, but I folded my hands together and considered how much I should reveal.
"Because I want to understand sothing," I said finally.
"Understand what?"
"The structure of the pack."
After all, this was sothing that Lady Bernice had emphasized several tis during our conversation and I don’t believe it was just a passing comnt.
She had a deeper aning and if I was going to survive as anything more than a slave, then I need to understand how the pack works.
Lilith looked puzzled.
"You already live in the pack." She said in confusion.
"I live in it," I agreed. "But that doesn’t an I understand it."
If I understood the pack, I would know why my dad was killed. But I don’t, which ans I don’t know how it works.
Lilith waited quietly for to continue.
I sighed softly. ’May as well tell her.’ I thought to myself.
"Think about it," I said. "Almost every woman who married into this pack ended up giving up whatever they were doing before. Warriors stopped training. Scholars stopped studying. Artists stopped creating."
Lilith’s expression darkened slightly.
"That’s... true."
"Why?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
She didn’t answer. Probably because she had never thought about it before.
Finally, she said carefully, "Because that is the tradition of the Night Claw pack."
"Tradition?" I asked, the word leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.
"Do you believe that tradition is fair?"
Lilith lowered her eyes.
"Fairness has never been the foundation of pack hierarchy."
That answer made smile faintly. Lilith was honest.
"But it should be. Everyone deserves to be treated fairly. Regardless of their gender or status. So, tell , are all the other packs the sa?" I asked all of a sudden.
"I don’t think so." Lilith replied thoughtfully.
"Exactly. Why is our pack different?"
I didn’t say anything more than that. But it seems that there is sothing about the pack hidden from the ordinary mbers.
I leaned forward slightly.
"I’m not trying to destroy the pack, Lilith."
Her head lifted.
"But I refuse to accept a system that wastes half its potential. Or turns people into mindless puppets."
"Then, how is the information you are asking for going to help in changing that?"
Lilith asked in confusion.
"The mont I encouraged those won to stand up for themselves, I created enemies," I said calmly.
"I need that information to help survive the deep waters of this pack." I finally said.
Lilith nodded slowly.
"Do you think people will target you?"
"The n who feel threatened will eventually retaliate. Maybe not directly because they are still afraid of Alpha Mike, but in other ways."
I stood up and walked toward the window.
Outside, the pack grounds were quieter now. The sun had set completely, and only the dim lights along the pathways illuminated the courtyard.
"The question isn’t whether they’ll co after ," I continued.
"The question is how."
Lilith stepped closer.
"And the won you want information about?"
"They are my weapon. But most importantly, I want the to live their own lives. Not like puppets or pawns."
"I don’t understand." Lilith said with a frown.
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