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.

I said. “But we have to put him in

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

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

arms and held

and I wrapped my jacket

further.

him out of the house and into the night.

I glanced around and made sure we were alone. Luckily, everyone else seemed to be asleep. I held Finnick

fear.

let out a

going to the forest, Mommy?” he asked, and

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

go?” he pressed. I considered my words

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

Asher Collins wasn’t a

he had done to

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

“I’m not afraid. Let’s leave. I’ll protect you. I can walk-”

I said quickly as he tried to wiggle in my arms. “Not before we pass

son closer to my chest, and

fine on foot, but there was a short interval just before

away.

quickened my pace and kept walking.

my delight, there were no guards. around. I let out a sigh of relief and then

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

avoid the forbidden section of the forest, so I had to find us a

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

Finnick’s hand 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

we began our walk through

us were too afraid to speak. We continued on for an hour in complete silence, carefully maneuvering