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,

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

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 time to

into my arms and held

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

further.

out of the house

sure we were alone. Luckily, everyone else seemed to be asleep. I held

fear.

the way there, Finnick let out a soft sound

going to the forest, Mommy?” he asked, and his

have to go there, I know

have to go?” he pressed. I

I decided. “The man we saw today. He’s very bad and very dangerous. So we have to go

Collins wasn’t

done to

question I know he didn’t want

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

as he tried to wiggle in my arms. “Not before we pass

to my chest, and

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

away.

I quickened my pace and kept walking.

it there, and to my delight, there were no guards. around. I

good way in, I set Finnick down and reached into my pack. I’d brought a flashlight, a compass, and a knife

I used the light to check the compass. I wasn’t an expert navigator, but I knew enough to get us through. We needed to avoid the forbidden section

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

was his first time 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, but I had no other choice. I couldn’t let the nightmares of Anemond come back to me, not again, and I wouldn’t let

walk through

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