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.

I said. “But we have to put

We carefully put Teddy in his bag, and once

were fully dressed, I did a quick scan of the house. It seemed like I had remembered everything we needed. I glanced at the clock. It was time

into my arms and held him

said, and I wrapped

further.

the house and into the

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

fear.

let out a soft

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

I know you don’t like it.

to go?” he pressed. I considered

He’s very bad and very dangerous. So we have to

lie. Asher Collins wasn’t a

done to me.

reply, I asked him the question I know he didn’t want

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

in my arms. “Not before we pass the sentinels. Just stay here for right now.”

to my chest, and Finnick sighed.

was a short interval

away.

pace and

made it there, and to my delight, there were no guards. around. I let out a sigh of relief and then walked straight into

good way in, I set Finnick down and reached into my pack. I’d brought a flashlight, a compass, and a knife with me. Retrieved them all, and after I put the knife

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 shortcut that would get us out of Wegalla, If I timed things. correctly, we could be on the other side

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.

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 I had no other choice. I couldn’t let the nightmares of Anemond come

walk through

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