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-”

did you push Marco?”

insisted, but I wasn’t having it. I set him down on the ground and stared

chastised him. “Now,

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

prompted him

fell down his cheeks, my heart began to ache.

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 him

me last night. Even if I’d

“You don’t say things like that to

Finnick. I hardly ever raised my voice,

and suddenly began to

before I could say

hall

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

place was

rang out behind me, and I readied myself for the stern hands of guards, but when I turned, it was just Erika.

she sighed. “Shhh… don’t cry. Finnick

never said that to me,” I whispered through my

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

on the war path and would likely seek revenge

“Thank you

she offered me a small, apologetic smile. “Thank you, Ca ssandra. Please, take

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

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

I called out softly.

a

silence for

you 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

it doesn’t work like that. I know you meant well, but you can’t say things like that

keep things

taken aback. He was right. I was so full of

sorry,” I apologized. “I’m sorry,

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

agreed. “For right now, everyone

he didn’t like me?” Finnick wondered, and