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

carefully put Teddy in his bag, and

of the house. It seemed like I had remembered everything we needed. I glanced at

my arms and held

tight, baby,” I said, and I wrapped my jacket around him to conceal him

further.

him out of the

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

fear.

let out a soft sound of

he

so sorry we have to go there, I know

we have to go?” he pressed. I

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

a total lie. Asher Collins

he had done

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

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

tried to wiggle in my arms. “Not before we pass the sentinels. Just stay here for right

held my son closer to my

on foot, but there was a short interval just before midnight when

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

it a good way in, I set 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

needed to avoid the forbidden section of the forest, so I had to find us a shortcut that would get us out of Wegalla, If I timed things. correctly, we could be on the other side of the

to keep my wits about me and keep us from making too many sounds

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

we began our walk through

speak. We continued on for