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 in

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

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

scooped Finnick into my arms and held

and I wrapped my jacket around him

further.

the house and

made sure we were alone. Luckily, everyone else seemed

fear.

there, Finnick let out a soft

he

so sorry we have to go there, I know you

to go?” he pressed. I considered my words carefully.

He’s very bad and very dangerous. So

Collins wasn’t a good man,

done

didn’t reply, I asked him the question I know he didn’t want to hear.

Let’s leave. I’ll

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

my son closer to my chest, and Finnick

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

away.

pace and

long after, we made it there, and to my delight, there were no guards. around. I let out a sigh of relief and then walked

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

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 get

precaution to keep us safe. Now that I couldn’t shift, I needed to keep my 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 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

we began our walk

We continued on for an hour in complete silence, carefully maneuvering through the sp ikey trees