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.

“But we have to put him in your

agreed. We carefully put Teddy in his bag, and once he was secure it was time for shoes.

quick scan of the house. It seemed like I had remembered everything we needed. I glanced at the clock.

my arms and held him close.

and I wrapped

further.

the

glanced around and made sure we were alone. Luckily, everyone else

fear.

the way there, Finnick let out a soft sound

the forest, Mommy?” he asked,

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

have to go?” he pressed. I

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

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

had done to

Finnick didn’t reply, I asked him the question I

not afraid. Let’s leave. I’ll protect you. I can

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

closer to my chest, and

a short interval just before midnight when there would be no guards around. This window was our only

away.

quickened my pace

made it there, and to my delight, there were no guards. around. I let out a sigh of

compass, and a

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

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 was a girl, but

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 back to me, not again, and I wouldn’t let them take my son.

our walk

too afraid to speak. We continued on for an hour in complete silence, carefully maneuvering through the sp ikey trees together.