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

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

dressed, I did a quick scan of the house. It seemed like I had remembered

into my arms and held him

I wrapped my

further.

carried him out of the house

was completely empty, with 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 held Finnick tight and then took off

fear.

let out a soft sound

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

we have to go there, I know you don’t like it. But I need you to be

we have to go?” he pressed. I considered my words

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

Asher Collins wasn’t a good man, especially considering

he had done to

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

afraid. Let’s leave. I’ll protect you. I

arms. “Not

to my chest, and Finnick sighed.

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

away.

I quickened my pace and kept walking.

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

way in, I set Finnick down and reached into my pack. I’d brought a flashlight, a compass, and a knife with me.

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,

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 was a girl, but I’d never had to use one

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

began our walk through the

of us were too afraid to speak. We continued on for an hour in