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-”

you push Marco?” I asked him sternly.

but I wasn’t having it. I set him down on the ground

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

soft at first, and then

prompted

cheeks, my heart

sniffs, and the whites of his eyes turned slightly red. “He laughed

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

okay,” I said loudly. “You don’t

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

right away and suddenly

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

the hall toward

him, but it was no use. Tears welled

place was toxic.

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

she sighed. “Shhh… don’t cry. Finnick didn’t mean it. The

to me,”

all my fault. I stepped out of the classroom to

looked terrified and I didn’t blame her. Adalyn was on the war path and would likely seek revenge

wiped my cheeks. “Thank you for getting

offered me a small, apologetic smile. “Thank you, Ca

the hall. Once she was gone,

I got there, Finnick was in bed with his head buried in his

called out softly. “Finnick, I’m

up slowly. I took a seat beside him on the

in silence for

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

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

him into my arms. “Honey, it doesn’t work like that. I know you meant well, but you can’t say things like that to people, even if

always keep things

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

I apologized. “I’m sorry,

he whispered. “I should probably say that to Marco too.”

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

didn’t like me?” Finnick