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.

I said. “But we have to put

in his bag, and once he

went downstairs, and after we were fully dressed, I did a quick scan of the house. It

my arms and

wrapped my jacket

further.

carried him out of the house and into the night.

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

fear.

the way there, Finnick let out a soft sound

going to the forest, Mommy?” he

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

to go?” he

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

lie. Asher Collins wasn’t a good man, especially considering

he had done to

the question I know he didn’t want to hear. “Are

Let’s leave. I’ll protect you. I

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

held my son closer to my

there was a short interval just before midnight when there would be no guards around. This window was our only hope and it

away.

quickened my pace and

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

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

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 timed things. correctly, we could be on the other side

meantime, I needed to take every 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

This was his first time entering the forest, and I could tell he 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 let the nightmares of Anemond come back to me,

walk

We continued on for an hour in complete silence, carefully