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.

said. “But we have to

put Teddy in his bag, and

did a quick scan of the house. It seemed like I had remembered everything we needed. I glanced at the clock. It

scooped Finnick into my arms and held him close.

I wrapped my jacket around him

further.

him out of the house and

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

fear.

out

we going to the forest, Mommy?” he asked, and his

so sorry we have to go there, I know you don’t like it. But I need

to go?” he pressed. I

we saw today. He’s very bad and very dangerous. So we

Collins wasn’t a good man,

done to

the question I know he didn’t want

he said firmly. “I’m not afraid. Let’s leave. I’ll protect

now, sweetheart,” I said quickly as he tried to wiggle in my arms. “Not before we pass the sentinels.

my son closer to

would have been fine on foot, but there was a short interval just before midnight when

away.

pace and kept walking.

made it there, and to my delight, there were no guards. around. I

a compass, and a knife with me. Retrieved them all, and after I put the knife in my pocket,

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

wits about me and keep us from making too 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

This was his first time entering 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

walk

us were too afraid to speak. We continued on for an hour in complete silence, carefully maneuvering through the sp