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.

we have to put him

We carefully put Teddy in his bag, and once he

were fully dressed, I did a quick scan of the house. It seemed like I had remembered

my arms and held

baby,” I said, and I wrapped my jacket around him to

further.

carried him out of the house and into the night.

street 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.

fear.

the way there, Finnick let out a soft sound

Mommy?” he asked, and his tone was painted

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?”

to go?” he pressed. I considered my words

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

total lie. Asher Collins wasn’t

he had done to

question I know he didn’t want to

not afraid. Let’s leave. I’ll

he tried to wiggle in my arms. “Not before we pass the sentinels. Just stay here for right now.”

held my son closer to my chest, and Finnick

a short interval just before midnight when there would be no guards around. This window

away.

I quickened my pace

no guards. around. I let out a sigh

and reached into my pack. I’d brought a flashlight, a compass, and a knife with me. Retrieved them

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 the

making too many sounds or running into any

because his palms were wet. I felt pangs of guilt go. through me. Putting Finnick in this much danger wasn’t fair,

walk through the forest.

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