Power and Influence

(Lydia Richmond's POV)

I looked coldly at the man in front of me. There was nothing I could do but gaze at him. He was tall, slim, handsome, but with a babyish look. I was still kneeling down with other arrested people all around.

"What were they caught doing?" The man asked. He was looking at everyone of us intensely.

One of the soldiers came outside in the center and bowed to the man. He wanted to tell him where we were caught. This seemed too much of an obsession for me.

"Lord Stone Sumach, these set of people were caught passing a secret path leading to the Pack even after your father, the Alpha has commanded that we aren't going to entertain any more strangers. This is a crime, my Lord, and it is one that must be dealt with thoroughly…" the soldier said, bowed again, and went back to his position.

The soldier's words had been so enlightening for me. I could understand about three important things just by the words he spoke. 

Firstly, the man's name was Stone Sumach and he was being addressed as Lord. I didn't know why such a young man would be called by such a rare tag. I felt it was for people more important. The man was goodlooking, looked tough and strong but he didn't qualify for that name if it was to be left to me.

Secondly, I found out that Stone Sumach was the son of the Alpha. This still didn't justify him being named a "Lord". I didn't mind that though but I knew if he was the son of the Alpha, he was definitely a very powerful person. I held onto this delicately. 

Thirdly, I noticed the manner he was regarded. He was awarded more honor than a normal son of an Alpha would be awarded. From what I had seen, I could conclude that he was a well regarded person among the soldiers. He must either be an instructor in their training force or he had a huge rank among their military. All Packs had their soldiers to defend against external harm and also eradicate internal issues.

Now, back to Lord Stone Sumach. I know knew his name. 

"Good. How did you catch them? I'd like to know as I have heard that they are very smart…" Stone Sumach said with a smile on his face. He looked like he was enjoying himself.

The same soldier who answered the former question came out again. He bowed before answering the question. It must be some kind of ritual which had to be done. Anyway, I watched them do their thing.

"We knew how smart they are and this made us become smarter…" the soldier began. I could tell he was the team leader of the soldiers who arrested us. "The thing is, we have been hearing rumors that there's a new path smugglers follow to enter the Pack and do evil things. Our pack is only enterable to those with a permit so we leveraged on this. I had about three soldiers become an undercover spy. They acted like they didn't know a thing and they mingled with the thugs. We have been doing this for about seven days but today, our hardwork was blessed when one of the soldiers stumbled on one of these smugglers. They familiarized and the rest is history. Not only have we arrested the smugglers, we have also discovered their secret path and it has been blocked with soldiers standing guard in case of any other invader."

Lord Stone Sumach seemed glad on hearing this. His smile becamed from ear to ear. I watched him giving that babyish and cute smile and this made me also smile a bit. I couldn't believe what I was doing. My imagination had run wild. 

"What shall we do to them, Lord?" The soldier asked now. He was speaking so respectfully. I admired that spirit. As I admired the spirit, I totally forgot that I was supposed to be 

"Go and lock them up now! I will deal with them later!" Stone Sumach said. I could feel his intense hatred for us. I watched him now carefully. As those words of his sank into my heart, I felt a deep pain in my stomach. I was pregnant and this made it hurt more. This pain lasted only for few seconds.

"Shall we give them food or water, Lord Stone?" The soldier asked carefully.

Stone Sumach had began to head back inside when heard this. He turned back to give his verdict.

"No food for them!" I heard Lord Stone Sumach shout. This got me shocked fully. "Give them water twice a day. In the morning and in the afternoon. Until I am ready with my decision, they will not eat."

I thought the soldier would protest against Stone Sumach's decision but reverse was the case. The soldier sounded used to such orders already. I didn't fathom this at all. I was pregnant and I needed to eat so as to be nourished. I wouldn't be the only one endangered if I didn't eat, my unborn kids would suffer it as well.

Anyway, I knew better than talking. I kept my silence as silence was actually golden. I watched the scene before me with more genuine interest.

And luckily for me, the soldier saw me and the fact that I was pregnant. He brought out it up with Stone Sumach.

"Lord Stone Sumach, this lady here is actually pregnant…" the soldier said pointing to me. "I think she would need to eat properly so as not to lose her unborn child. Should she treated like the others or you would want a different treatment for her? Even if it's a meal per day."

As I heard that the soldier was offering that I eat once daily, I felt like disputing it. Eating once daily wasn't enough. But once again, I knew better. And of course, what I heard wasn't what I expected.