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 your backpack,

put Teddy in his bag, and once he was secure

and after we 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 to

arms and held him

on tight, baby,” I said, and I wrapped my jacket around

further.

the house and into the night.

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

fear.

let out a

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 you to be brave,

he

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

total lie. Asher Collins wasn’t

done to me.

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

afraid. Let’s

quickly as he tried to wiggle in my arms. “Not before we pass the sentinels. Just stay here for right

to my chest,

the best. Finnick would have been fine on foot, but there was a short interval just

away.

I quickened my pace

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

made it a 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 in my pocket, I turned on

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 of the forest by

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

hand in mine. 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 this much danger wasn’t fair, but I had no other choice.

walk

speak. We continued on for an hour in complete silence, carefully maneuvering through