Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 44 Grievance

CA SSANDRA

As Adalyn continued to glare daggers in my direction, I turned to look at

Finnick.

“Did you lay a hand on Prince Marco?” I asked as evenly as I could possibly manage. Finnick took a moment and then shook his head.

“I didn’t do anything,” he said quietly, but his expression told a different story. Finnick tended to glance down at the ground when he was lying, and he’d done just that a moment ago. So, I took a breath and repeated myself.

“Finnick, this is serious,” I said in a much sterner tone. “I want the truth. Did you lay a hand on Prince Marco?”

Finnick took a moment of pause, and then he nodded.

“Sort of,” he admitted. “But it was just a light push, Mommy. And Marco hit me

first-”

“Prince Marco,” Adalyn corrected him through bared teeth, and then she rushed over to us. She seemed as if she were going to sn atch my son away, but held firm. and lifted him up before she could do anything.

I glared at Asher’s wife as she stopped in front of us. No one, royal or not, was going to lay a single finger on my son.

“I’ll take my son and leave-” I started to say, but as I turned to move, Adalyn’s hand clamped down on my shoulder.

“I’ll tell the Alpha King,” she spat. Her nails dug into my skin, but the pain didn’t matter. I was in protective mode and my only concern was my son.

“Tell him whatever you like,” I retorted, and I yanked my shoulder away with

impressive force. “But I’ll be taking my son away now.”

Prince Marco began to wail.

“My father is going to punish you!” he cried, and he pointed his finger at Finnick. “You’re going to be in trouble!”

Finnick opened his mouth to speak, but I shushed him immediately. I didn’t wait for Adalyn to dismiss me. I simply turned and rushed right out of the room and into the busy hallway. I walked as quickly as I could with Finnick in my arms, and I held him tightly against me.

“Mommy,” Finnick whimpered as I sped toward our chamber. “Mommy, I’m

sorry-”

push Marco?” I

wasn’t having it. I set him

chastised him. “Now, tell me Finnick, why did you push

and then he began to sniffle. It was soft at first, and then it grew a little louder. I paused

I prompted him quietly.

the tears fell down his cheeks, my heart began to ache. Finnick hardly ever cried.

“He laughed at me, Mommy, for not having a

I hadn’t realized Finnick had overheard what Erika had said to me last night. Even if I’d known, I’d never have expected him to repeat it

okay,” I said loudly. “You don’t say things like that

gotten into Finnick. I hardly ever raised my voice, but my son needed

right away and suddenly began

and before I

down the hall toward our

no use. Tears welled in my own eyes.

place was toxic.

myself for the stern hands of guards, but when

she asked, and when I shook my head she sighed. “Shhh…

me,” I whispered

not that kind of boy. I must tell you, Ca ssandra.. This is all my fault. I stepped out of the classroom to grab some water and left the boys

blame her. Adalyn was on the war path and would likely seek revenge on anyone involved in the

fault,” I said as I wiped my cheeks. “Thank you

said, and she offered me a small, apologetic smile. “Thank you,

down the hall. Once she was gone, I

with his head buried in his blanket. I quietly closed the door behind me and then approached.

out softly.

slowly. I took a seat beside him on

for a minute or

you tell me you overheard us last night?” I asked. “And why would. you repeat our words back to Marco?”

always saying bad things about you, Mommy. I… just wanted to say bad things

him into my arms. “Honey, it doesn’t work like that. I know you meant well, but you

keep things from

aback. He was right. I was

I apologized. “I’m

“I should probably

right now, everyone needs to

did Daddy leave because he didn’t like me?” Finnick wondered, and my heart ached