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

and once he was secure it was time

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

Finnick into my arms and held him close.

said, and I wrapped

further.

carried him out of the

sure we were alone. Luckily, everyone else seemed to be asleep. I held Finnick tight and then took off toward

fear.

way there, Finnick let out

forest, Mommy?” he asked, and his tone

to go there, I know you don’t like

do we have to go?” he pressed. I considered my words

saw today. He’s very bad and very dangerous. So we

a total lie. Asher Collins wasn’t a good man,

had done

didn’t reply, I asked him the question I know he didn’t want to hear. “Are you afraid?”

“I’m not afraid. Let’s leave.

my arms. “Not before we pass the sentinels. Just stay here for right

son closer to my

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

away.

quickened my pace and

delight, there were no guards.

a good way in, I set Finnick down and reached into my pack. I’d brought a flashlight, a compass,

around us, so 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

needed to keep my wits about me and keep us from making too many sounds

I felt pangs of guilt go. through me. Putting Finnick in this

we began our walk

too afraid to speak. We continued on for an hour in complete silence, carefully maneuvering through the sp