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

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

went downstairs, and after we were fully dressed, I did a quick scan of the house. It seemed like I had remembered

Finnick into my arms and held

I wrapped my jacket around

further.

him out of the

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

fear.

let out a

he asked, and his tone

so sorry we have to go there, I know you don’t

he pressed.

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

lie. Asher Collins wasn’t a

done to me.

him the question I know he didn’t want to hear. “Are

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

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

my son closer to my chest, and Finnick

he said simply, and he fell silent. It was for the best. Finnick would have been fine on foot, but there was a short interval just before midnight when

away.

quickened my pace and kept walking.

no guards. around. I let out a sigh

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 the flashlight.

we 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, so I had to find us a shortcut that would

making too many sounds or running into any predators..

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. I couldn’t let the nightmares of Anemond come back to me,

our walk through the forest.

first, the two of us were too afraid to speak. We continued on for an hour in complete