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 in your backpack, okay?”

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

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

arms and held him close.

said, and I wrapped my jacket around

further.

him out of the house and into

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

fear.

out a soft sound of

forest, Mommy?” he asked, and his

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

have to go?” he pressed. I considered

today. He’s very bad and very dangerous. So we have to go somewhere to keep

a total lie. Asher Collins wasn’t a good

done to me.

didn’t reply, I asked him the question I know he didn’t want to hear. “Are

firmly. “I’m not afraid. Let’s leave. I’ll protect you. I can

to wiggle in my arms. “Not before we

son closer to my chest, and Finnick

he said simply, and he fell silent. It was for the best. Finnick would have been fine on foot, but there was a short interval just before

away.

pace and kept

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

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 the knife in my pocket,

needed to avoid the forbidden section

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

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

began our walk through

were too afraid to speak. We continued on for an