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-”

Marco?” I

I wasn’t having it. I set him

for physical violence,” I chastised him. “Now, tell me Finnick, why did

soft at first, and then

prompted him

cheeks, my heart began to

of me,” Finnick revealed through his sniffs, and the whites of his eyes turned slightly red. “He laughed at me, Mommy, for not having a daddy. So, I told

last night. Even if I’d known, I’d never

said loudly. “You don’t say things like that

swelled within me. I didn’t understand what had gotten into Finnick. I hardly ever raised my voice, but my son needed to

away and suddenly began to s ob.

hate you, Mommy!” he exclaimed, and before I could say

hall toward

called after him, but it was no use. Tears welled in my own eyes. My worst fears were coming

was

for the stern hands of guards, but when I turned, it

asked, and when I shook my head she sighed. “Shhh… don’t cry. Finnick didn’t mean it. The boy

said that to me,” I

me. “He’s not that kind of boy. I must tell you, Ca ssandra.. This is all my fault.

and I didn’t blame her. Adalyn was on the war

you for getting me. I appreciate it. I’ll handle Finnick from here.”

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

and walked down the hall. Once she was gone, I continued toward my

I got there, Finnick was in bed with his head buried in his blanket. I quietly closed the door

softly. “Finnick, I’m

slowly. I took a seat beside him on the bed and we

in silence for a minute or two.

overheard us last night?” I asked. “And why

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

but you can’t

always keep things from

taken aback. He was right. I was so full of secrets l,could hardly breathe.

sorry,” I apologized.

he whispered. “I should

agreed. “For right now, everyone needs to take some time to cool

Daddy leave because he didn’t like me?”