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.

said. “But we have to put him in your backpack, okay?”

Teddy in his bag, and once he was secure it was time for

It

Finnick into my arms

baby,” I said, and I wrapped

further.

the house and into the

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

fear.

way there, Finnick let out a soft sound of worry.

the forest, Mommy?” he asked, and

I know you don’t like it. But I need you

he pressed.

bad and very dangerous. So we have to go

Asher Collins wasn’t a good man,

he had done to me.

the question I know he didn’t

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

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

held my son closer to

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

away.

quickened my pace and kept walking.

there were no guards. around. I let out a

I’d brought a flashlight, a compass,

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

many sounds or

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. I couldn’t let the

walk through

speak. We continued on for