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

agreed. We carefully put Teddy in his bag, and once he was secure

of the house. It seemed like I had remembered everything we needed. I glanced at the clock. It was time to

Finnick into my arms and held

I wrapped my jacket around him to

further.

carried him out of the house and

around and made sure we were alone. Luckily, everyone

fear.

the way there, Finnick let out a soft sound of

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

“I’m so sorry we have to go there, I know

do we have to go?” he pressed. I

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

a total lie. Asher Collins

had done to me.

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

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

arms. “Not before we pass the sentinels. Just stay here for right now.”

held my son closer to my

silent. It was for the best. Finnick would have been fine on foot, but there was a

away.

I quickened my pace

after, we made it there, and to my delight, there were no guards.

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

us through. We needed to avoid the

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

Finnick’s hand in 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 of Anemond come back to me, not again, and I wouldn’t let them

our walk through

too afraid to speak. We continued on for an hour in complete silence, carefully