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

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

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

into my arms and held

said, and I wrapped my jacket around him to conceal

further.

of the house and into the

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

fear.

Finnick let out

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

there, I know you don’t like it. But I need you to

go?” he pressed. I considered my

“The man we saw today. He’s very bad and very

Collins wasn’t a good man, especially

he had done to me.

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

not afraid. Let’s leave. I’ll

he tried to wiggle in my arms. “Not before we pass the sentinels. Just stay

closer to my chest, and Finnick sighed.

on foot, but there was a short interval just before midnight when there would be no guards around. This window was our only hope and it

away.

I quickened my pace and

delight, there were no guards. around. I let

into my pack. I’d brought a flashlight, a compass, and

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 could be on the other side of the forest by the morning.

my wits about me and keep us from making too many

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 this much danger wasn’t fair, but I had

walk through the forest.

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