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

in his bag, and once he was

did a quick scan of the house. It seemed like

my arms and held

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

further.

him out of the house

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

fear.

way there, Finnick let out a soft sound

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

baby.” I said. “I’m so sorry we have to go there, I know you don’t like it. But I

to go?” he pressed.

“The man we saw today. He’s very bad and very dangerous. So we

Collins

he had done to me.

I know he didn’t want to hear. “Are

“I’m 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

to my

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

away.

quickened my pace and kept

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

needed to avoid the forbidden section of the forest, so I had to find

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

mine. This 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

our walk through

continued on for an hour in complete