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 him

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

and I went downstairs, and after we were fully dressed, I did a quick scan of the house. It seemed like I had remembered everything we needed. I glanced at the clock. It was

arms and held

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

further.

carried him out of the house and

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

fear.

the way there, Finnick let out a soft

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

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,

go?” he pressed. I considered my words

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

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

done

the question I know he

Let’s leave.

in my arms.

my son closer to my chest, and Finnick sighed.

It was for the best. Finnick would have been fine on foot, but there was a short interval just before midnight when there would

away.

my pace

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

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

through. We needed to avoid the forbidden section of the forest, so I

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 for us, my father had taught me how to use a

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

walk

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