Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 9 Attack

CA SSANDRA

When I entered my son’s room, I half-expected him to be awake, but he was

fast asleep.

He had his arms wrapped around his favorite teddy bear, Teddy, and for a moment, I didn’t want to wake him up. He seemed so peaceful, and I was about to put him through so much stress.

But not as much as I would be if we went to Anemond.

So, I leaned down and gently touched his arm.

“Finnick,” I whispered, and when he didn’t rouse, I said his name again. After a moment, his nose crinkled and his eyes blinked open.

“Mommy?” he said, and he yawned lightly.

“Sorry to wake you, baby,” I said, and I gave him my most apologetic smile. “We have to go.”

“Go?” he repeated back in a confused voice. “Go where?”

“I’ll tell you on the way there,” I explained. “For now, we just need to get ready,

okay?”

Finnick nodded, though his gray eyes were concerned. I pulled the covers aside and helped him down. We walked over to the closet, and we got him dressed.

After I zipped up his jacket, I picked out a couple of fresh sets of clothes and packed them in a small backpack.

“Put this on,” I instructed him.

“Can Teddy come?” he asked hopefully, and he glanced over at the stuffed bear he’d left on the bed. I studied the toy carefully. We were running low on room, but Teddy was his favorite toy. I couldn’t ask him to leave it behind when I was already asking so much of him.

have to put him in

bag, and once

It seemed like I had remembered everything we needed.

Finnick into my arms and

and I wrapped my jacket around

further.

of the house and

to light our way. I glanced around and made sure we were alone. Luckily, everyone else seemed

fear.

let out a soft sound

the forest, Mommy?” he asked, and his tone was painted with

there, I know you don’t like it. But I need you to be brave,

do we have to go?” he pressed. I considered my words carefully.

I decided. “The man we saw today. He’s very bad and very

total lie. Asher Collins wasn’t a good man,

had done

reply, I asked him the question I know he didn’t want to hear. “Are you

afraid. Let’s

quickly as he tried to wiggle in my arms.

closer to my chest, and Finnick sighed.

for the best. Finnick would have been fine on foot, but there was a short interval just before midnight when there would be no guards around. This window

away.

quickened my pace and kept walking.

it there, and to my delight, there were no guards. around. I let out a sigh of relief and

pack. I’d brought a flashlight, a compass, and a knife with me. Retrieved them all, and after I put the knife in my pocket,

was pitch-black around us, so we needed to rely on the flashlight to see. I used the light to check the compass. I wasn’t an expert navigator, but I knew enough to get us through. We needed to avoid the forbidden section of the forest, so I had to find us a

many sounds or running into any predators.. Luckily for us, my father had taught me how to use a knife when I was a girl, but I’d never had to use one before.

the forest, and I could tell he was scared because his palms were wet. I felt pangs of guilt go. through me. Putting Finnick in this much danger wasn’t fair, but

began our walk

of us were too afraid to speak. We continued on for an hour in complete