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.

to put him in your backpack,

in his bag, and

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

into my arms

baby,” I said, and I wrapped my

further.

carried him out of the house and into the

street was completely empty, with only the streetlights out 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.

out a soft sound of worry.

Mommy?” he asked,

have to go there, I know you don’t like it. But

do we have to go?” he pressed. I considered

we saw today. He’s very bad

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

he had done

him the question I know he didn’t want

he said firmly. “I’m not afraid. Let’s leave.

sweetheart,” I said quickly as he tried to wiggle in my arms. “Not before we pass

to my chest, and Finnick

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

away.

pace and kept

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

into my pack. I’d brought a flashlight, a compass,

to get us through. We needed to avoid the forbidden section of the forest,

us from making too many sounds

felt pangs of guilt go. through me. Putting Finnick in this much danger wasn’t fair, but I had no other choice. I

we began our walk through

for an hour in complete