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

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

quick scan of the house. It seemed like I had remembered everything we needed. I

into my arms and

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

further.

him out of the house

I glanced around and made sure we were alone. Luckily, everyone else seemed to be asleep. I held Finnick tight

fear.

let out

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

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

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

were right before,” I decided. “The man we saw today. He’s very bad and very dangerous. So we have to go somewhere to keep

Asher Collins wasn’t a good man, especially

he had done to me.

I know he didn’t want to

Let’s leave. I’ll protect you. I can

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

to my chest,

and he fell silent. It was for the best. Finnick would have been fine 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.

pace and kept walking.

to my delight, there were no guards. around. I let out a sigh of relief and then walked straight into the forest..

it a 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 all, and after I put

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

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 a girl,

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 let the nightmares of Anemond come back to me,

we began our walk through the forest.

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