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 put him in your

Teddy in his bag, and once

and after we were fully dressed, I did a quick scan of the house. It

into my arms and held him close.

baby,” I said, and I wrapped my

further.

the

was 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

fear.

there, Finnick let out a soft

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

there, I know you don’t like it. But I need you to be

go?” he

bad and

Asher Collins wasn’t

had done to me.

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

not afraid. Let’s leave.

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

my son closer to my chest, and Finnick

been fine on foot, but there was a short interval just

away.

my pace and kept

long after, we made it there, and to my delight, there were no guards. around. I let out a sigh of relief and then

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

needed to rely on the flashlight to see. 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 of the forest, so I had to find us a shortcut that would get

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

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

we began our walk through

afraid to speak. We continued on for an hour in complete