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

and once he was secure it was time

dressed, I did a quick scan of the house. It seemed like I had remembered everything we needed. I glanced at the clock. It was time

Finnick into my arms and held him close.

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

further.

of the house

our way. I glanced around and made sure we were alone. Luckily, everyone else seemed to be asleep. I held Finnick tight and then

fear.

out a soft sound of worry.

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

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

go?” he pressed.

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

lie. Asher Collins wasn’t a

done to me.

didn’t reply, I asked him the question I

Let’s leave. I’ll

said quickly as he tried to wiggle in my arms. “Not before

closer to my chest, and

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

away.

pace and

to my delight, there were no guards. around. I let out

we made 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 the knife

I knew enough to get us through. We needed to avoid the forbidden section of the

shift, I needed to keep my wits about me and keep us from making too many sounds or running into any predators.. Luckily for

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 of Anemond come back to me, not again, and I wouldn’t let them take

began our walk through the forest.

continued on for an hour