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.

said. “But we have to put him in your backpack, okay?”

his bag, and once he was secure it was time for shoes.

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

scooped Finnick into my arms and

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

further.

of the house

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 off toward the forest.

fear.

let out a soft

Mommy?” he asked, and his tone was

sorry we have to go there, I know you don’t like it. But I need you to be brave, okay?”

to go?” he pressed. I considered my words

were right before,” I decided. “The man we saw today. He’s very bad and very dangerous. So we have to go somewhere to

Collins wasn’t a good man,

had done

the question I know he

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

arms. “Not before we

my son closer to my chest, and

best. Finnick would have 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 hope and

away.

quickened my pace and

guards. around. I let out

flashlight, a compass, and a knife with me. Retrieved them all, and after I put

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 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

to keep us safe. Now that I 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 father had taught me how to use a knife when I was a girl, but I’d never had

were wet. I felt pangs of guilt go. through me. Putting Finnick in this much danger wasn’t fair, but

began our walk

of us were too afraid to speak. We continued on for an