Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 48 Kidnapper

CA SSANDRA

As the shopkeeper stared at us expectantly, a pit formed in my stomach. I wanted to turn down the man’s offer and was about to open my mouth to do just that, but before the words could leave my mouth, Finnick jumped excitedly.

“Yes!” he declared, and then he whipped back around to look at me. “Just one look, Mommy, pleaaaaaase?”

My son’s storm-gray eyes were as wide as the puppies’ in the window. He wasn’t normally one to beg so I was a little taken aback by his demeanor, but I was struggling to refuse his request. It wasn’t very often we were able to do something like this.

“You don’t have to take one home with you today, kind lady,” the shopkeeper addressed me gently. “You’re more than welcome to join the boy and look.”

I considered the idea for a moment and then nodded. “Thank you for your

kindness.”

I took Finnick’s hand in mine and the two of us followed the man into his shop. As we crossed the threshold, I couldn’t help but remember being here when I was young. The shop looked exactly the same, but the gentle older lady who ran it didn’t appear to be around.

The moment the doors closed behind us, the puppies in the pen began to bark.

Their hackles raised and their tails thrashed as if we were intruders instead of

visitors. Finnick stiffened beside me, a little taken aback by the sound.

“It’s okay, honey,” I whispered gently, and I squeezed Finnick’s hand.

“They’re just a little excited,” the shopkeeper explained to us when we stopped in ront of the pen. “It’s been a slow day today and they haven’t seen many people.”

I was surprised by his explanation. The main street was full of so many people. It struck me as odd that this shop hadn’t been more popular on a day like today. Had

their customer base dwindled?

Finnick tugged on my sleeve. “Mommy, can I pet them?”

answered softly, and when I turned to look at the shopkeeper, he gave me a small nod of approval.

and then he turned to

smiled. “Of course, young man.”

time after that and hustled right over to the pen of puppies. The little dogs swarmed toward him, and their body language, shifted from guarded to ready

lips curled into a smile. I knew it was going to be hard to drag him away from all of this when the time came, but for now,

puppy made its way into Finnick’s arms and my heart panged at the sight of them together. The animal was a fluffy little thing with big black eyes. and a wet pink tongue that licked Finnick all over.

It wasn’t long before he turned to face me with a hopeful expression and it took

market, but we can’t get a puppy,” I explained. “I’m sorry,

water. The sight of him so sad was almost enough to bring me to tears as well. I wished nothing more than to be able

me and offered me a kind expression and a cup of steaming

to the cup. “Would you like a cup of

you,” I said gratefully, and I accepted the cup. “That’s very kind of you

offer.”

no trouble at all,”

but when I raised the cup to my lips, the steam reached my nose, and the smell of the tea caught me off guard. It smelled strange, nothing

and lowered the cup. Something wasn’t right, I

my son. Before I could react, the young woman grabbed him and glared at me. Her light brown eyes

full of malice and she laughed cruelly as Finnick tried to

–

grew louder as he screamed.

I cried out, and I started to rush to him, but I

haven’t you?” he said cryptically as his lips curled into a mean smile. “Emmett Keller

as his words

knew Emmett?

man wasn’t the shopkeeper

I was.

do you want?” I pleaded. “I’ll do anything, just let my son

closer. “And if you don’t come with me, your son will pay for

I interrupted, but the man’s eyes