(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.(Sharon Timberlake's POV)It was all tense but I was feeling cold. I was having two opposite feelings simultaneously."I don't care about if she is pregnant or not!" Stone Sumach shouted at the soldier. "A criminal is a criminal and a prisoner is also a prisoner. It doesn't matter the issues involved. You will do what I want, wouldn't you?"The soldier was aware that Lord Stone Sumach was annoyed. He got down with one knee to the ground and bowed."I am sorry if that annoyed you, Lord…" the soldier apologized. "And yes, I will do all what you ask me to do. I would never go against your order. You can trust me."I simply watched the scene. I was already imagining what life would be for me without food. I would probably lose consciousness if it became too much. I began to imagine that no one found out that I had fainted and before anyone saw me, I had died. I was long lost in this thinking until I heard someone's voice. I had to snap out of it."Good!" Stone Sumach noted now. "I do not
(Lydia Richmond's POV) The warder looked at me in shock. He was probably not expecting this. I waited for his answer patiently."I don't think that would be possible…" the warder began carefully. He was looking around to confirm if there was someone hearing us. He confirmed that there wasn't anyone and he continued talking. "You see, I can't help you escape. I would have loved to because of your current condition but I am sorry, I really won't be able to help you. I have to leave!""Please!" I called him back. "Just help me. I will give whatever afterwards. I don't really want to go through all these. It's a painful experience from what I have heard from you so far. Please, help me. I will be grateful to you for ever.""It isn't in my position!" The warder shouted at me. "Do you want to get me killed? Listen up, I am here to make sure you go nowhere. I am not here to protect you, I am here to make sure you do not get away from here. If you move from here, I will get killed. Now, yo
(Lydia Richmond's POV) The man was one of the soldiers of Lord Stone Sumach. In fact, I knew him more since he was among the soldiers in the front. He was the same soldier who took Stone Sumach's words and implemented it. This soldier had been the one who asked Stone Sumach to pardon me because I was pregnant. I guess he had decided to come to help me because Stone Sumach didn't accept his advice."My name is Jake and I am among the Alpha's soldiers. Do you know me?" He asked now.I knew him but I decided not to tell him this. I was quite unsure of what he would when he heard the truth. I decided to deny this."I do not know you…" I told him. "But I am really grateful to you for saving me. Thank you so much.""It's nothing!" Jake said. "I know you must be hungry. Let me make something quick for you. I need to go back to the mansion in the next one hour. Failure to do this might make others think that I was the one who saved you. I wouldn't want to be a primary suspect.""I understa
(Jake's POV) After I had helped Lydia settle down, I got back on my carriage and took it back to the very spot I had picked it up. After doing this, I entered back into the mansion in the same way I had left. I was quite afraid but as a soldier, I was courageous. I knew that what I had just done was an act of disloyalty. Even at that, I was not ready to allow Lord Stone Sumach use Lydia for his selfish purposes. Lydia was pregnant and Lord Stone Sumach was supposed to show her mercy. Since I couldn't get my wishes in the open, I would do it secretly. I realized that the keys to the prison door was still with me. I actually stole the keys from the warder. I thought about returning the keys but it was too risky. I decided to dump in the opposite direction of where I passed. This would definitely distract the search party.I knew the warder would be in trouble when Lord Stone Sumach got to know that the woman he kept in his care had escaped. I wouldn't mind the warder being punished a
Jake's POV "I don't want much from everyone of you. I believe in flexibility and not in overworking people or having them overwhelmed with tasks…" Lord Stone Sumach explained. A stranger hearing him would have thought he was a good person. However, he was actually the worst. "So, here's the deal. I want all of you to go hunt each and every prisoner that escaped from this place. I will give each person tasks considering this. Are you listening?""Yes, Sir!" I and the remaining three squadron leaders said slowly.Lord Stone Sumach went ahead to list the tasks. He ordered the three other squadron leaders to hunt down the prisoners who had been involved in the prison break. After telling them this, he turned to me. He had not given me a task before."I learnt that the women's prison wasn't broken in the prison break. Do you remember the pregnant woman who was with the smugglers?" Lord Stone Sumach asked me coldly.I was frightened. I thought he had finally known that I saved Lydia. I
(Lydia Richmond's POV) I went to the door when I heard those voices arguing. I didn't make any sound so as not to cause suspicion. I was a runaway prisoner and it wouldn't be unexpected if people were looking for me. I put my ear on the door in the bid to hear what the voices were saying.But I didn't hear a thing.Those weren't voices. What I had been hearing was actually the sound of the breeze. I now knew that I had been imagining too much. I couldn't help but laugh at myself. After doing this, I went to have a seat.I didn't know why but I felt unsettled after Jake had left the house. I paced back and forth while wondering about the next line of action to take. I had mixed feelings about everything at the moment.Anyway, I knew better. I had to settle down to have some sleep. I did this but I still ended up rolling back and forth on the bed. The bed wasn't so comfortable and the thoughts on my mind made me more uncomfortable. I didnt feel relaxed at all.At last, nature took con
(Lydia Richmond's POV) I was so afraid at that moment. I thought I had killed Jake. I moved stealthily towards him with the aim of checking his condition.Jake wasn't moving. He laid unconscious where he was. I moved in to check his pulse now. I could still feel life in his veins. Now, I knew he had not died already. He was still living and I still had to save him. However, I didn't know how to do this. I knew no herbs or roots that could rescue him from this.I was directed by impulse to check his head where I had hit him with the piece of wood. I checked and the area wasn't bleeding. However, it was swollen. I wasn't comfortable with this as he could be having an internal injury. I had once read that in those cases, a person's life was at risk as it could cut short the blood flow from the brain. It could also cause excessive blood flow to the brain. I pondered on all these but still without a solution. Suddenly, I saw Jake began to come out of his consciousness. This was good news
(Lydia Richmond's POV) I heard the voice clearly. This wasn't a mix-up at all. As I heard this, my heart began to pound loudly. I had heard Jake's name and since he was the captain of his squadron, the remaining men in the squadron were probably looking for him.My first intent was to find a piece of clothing to cover Jake's mouth lest he shouts and let the men know that he was in. However, I was so shocked that I remained rooted to a spot. I thought severally of the next line of action to take. I was shaking feverishly but out of fear."Captain Jake!" I heard the same voice once again. This was a confirmation that I wasn't daydreaming. Jake was looking at me now. If I could read his mind correctly, he was probably thinking of answering the caller so he would be saved. This was something that would actually happen. I had no weapon to threaten Jake apart from the big stick around. I knew the men calling Jake were soldiers. They would have swords to combat me. If Jake managed to answe