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

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

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

arms and

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

further.

carried him out of the house and

around and made sure we were alone. Luckily, everyone

fear.

there, Finnick let out a soft sound of worry.

Mommy?” he asked, and his tone was painted with

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

he pressed. I

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

Asher Collins wasn’t

he had done to

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

Let’s leave.

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

held my son closer to my

would have been fine on foot, but there was a short interval just before midnight when there would be no guards around. This window was our only hope and it was minutes

away.

I quickened my pace

to my delight, there were no guards. around. I let out a

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 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 of Wegalla, If I timed things. correctly, we could be on the other side of the forest by

Now that I couldn’t shift, I needed to keep my wits about me and keep us from making too many sounds

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

began our walk through

afraid to speak. We continued on for an hour in