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.

have to

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

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

my arms and held

I said, and I wrapped

further.

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,

fear.

out a soft

he asked, and his tone was painted

there, I know you don’t like

do we have to go?” he pressed.

bad and very dangerous. So we have

Asher Collins wasn’t a

he had done

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

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

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

held my son closer to my chest, and Finnick

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

away.

my pace and

too long after, 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

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 of the forest, so I had to find us a shortcut that would get us out of Wegalla,

me and keep us from making too many sounds

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,

began our walk through

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