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.

“But we have to put him in your backpack,

and once he was

of the house. It seemed

scooped Finnick into my arms and held him

and I wrapped my jacket

further.

carried him out of the house and

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

fear.

the way there, Finnick let out

Mommy?” he asked, and his tone was painted

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

to go?” he pressed. I

bad and very dangerous. So we have to go somewhere to

lie. Asher Collins wasn’t a good man, especially considering

done

question I know he didn’t want to hear. “Are you afraid?”

Let’s

my arms. “Not before we pass

closer to my chest, and Finnick

foot, but there was a short interval just before

away.

quickened my pace and kept walking.

no guards. around. I let out a sigh of relief

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

us, so we 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 us out of Wegalla, If I timed

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

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

walk

to speak. We continued on for an hour in