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 in your

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

fully dressed, I did a quick scan of the house. It seemed like I had remembered everything we needed. I glanced at the

Finnick into my arms and held him

I said, and I wrapped my

further.

the house and

was completely empty, with only the streetlights out to light our way. I glanced around and made sure we were alone. Luckily, everyone else seemed to be asleep. I held Finnick tight and then took off toward the

fear.

let out a soft sound

forest, Mommy?” he asked, and his tone was painted

I said. “I’m so sorry we have to go there, I know you don’t like it. But I need you to be brave, okay?”

he pressed. I considered my words

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

Collins wasn’t

he had done to me.

didn’t reply, I asked him the question I know he

“I’m not afraid. Let’s leave. I’ll

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

my son closer to my chest, and

best. Finnick would have been fine on foot, but there was a short interval just before midnight when there would be no guards around.

away.

quickened my pace and

were no guards. around. I let out a sigh of relief and then walked straight into

brought a flashlight, a compass, and a knife with me. Retrieved them all, and after I put the knife in

enough to get us through. We needed to avoid

safe. Now that I couldn’t shift, I needed to keep my wits about me and keep us from making too many

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, not again, and I wouldn’t

walk

speak. We continued on for an hour in