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.

we have to put

carefully put Teddy in his bag, and once he was secure it was

house. It seemed like I had remembered everything we needed. I glanced at the clock. It was

scooped Finnick into my arms and held him close.

baby,” I said, and I wrapped my

further.

of the

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

fear.

out a soft

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

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

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

saw today. He’s very bad and very dangerous. So we have to go somewhere to keep us safe.”

Collins wasn’t

done to me.

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

“I’m not afraid. Let’s

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

my son closer to my chest, and Finnick sighed.

a short interval just before

away.

I quickened my pace

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

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

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 shortcut that would get us out

I needed to keep my wits about me and keep us from making too many sounds

go. through me. Putting Finnick in this much danger wasn’t fair, but I had

began our walk

for an hour in complete silence, carefully maneuvering