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.

to put him in

Finnick agreed. We carefully put Teddy in his bag, and once

quick scan of the house. It seemed like I had remembered everything we

into my arms and held

baby,” I said, and I wrapped my

further.

carried him out of the house and into the night.

street was completely empty, with only the streetlights out to light our way. I glanced around and made sure we were alone.

fear.

out

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

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

he

I decided. “The man we saw today. He’s very bad and very dangerous. So we have to go somewhere to

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

had done to me.

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

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

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

my son closer to my

silent. It was for the best. Finnick would have been fine on foot, but there was a short interval just before midnight when there

away.

my 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 the

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

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

to keep us safe. Now that I couldn’t shift, I needed to keep my 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 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 back to me, not again, and I wouldn’t

our walk through the forest.

on for an hour in complete silence, carefully maneuvering