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.

said. “But we have to put him

agreed. We carefully put Teddy in his bag, and once he

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

scooped Finnick into my arms and

said, and I wrapped my jacket around him to conceal

further.

him out of the

with only the streetlights out to light our way. I glanced around and made sure we were alone. Luckily, everyone

fear.

the way there, Finnick let out a soft sound of

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

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

to go?” he pressed. I considered my

were right before,” I decided. “The man we saw today. He’s very bad

a total lie. Asher Collins wasn’t

done to

didn’t reply, I asked him the question I know

not afraid. Let’s leave. I’ll protect

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

closer to my chest, and

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 was

away.

quickened my pace and kept

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

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

I wasn’t an expert navigator, but I knew enough to get us through. We needed to avoid the forbidden section of the forest, so I had to

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 knife when I was a girl, but I’d never had to use one

I felt pangs of guilt go. through me. Putting Finnick in this much danger wasn’t

our walk

We continued on for an hour in complete silence, carefully maneuvering through the