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?”

look at the shopkeeper, he gave me a small nod of approval. I then turned back to Finnick.

then he turned to the

“Of course, young

little dogs swarmed toward him, and their body language, shifted from guarded

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, he deserved to feel

way into Finnick’s arms and my heart panged at the sight of them together. The animal was a fluffy little

he turned to face me with a hopeful expression and it took all of my effort to keep from

new toys from the market, but we can’t

enough to bring me to tears as well. I wished

later, the shopkeeper approached me and offered me a kind expression and a cup of steaming tea.

he assured me, and then he gestured to the cup. “Would you like a

gratefully, and I accepted the cup. “That’s

offer.”

at all,”

think anything of it, but when I raised the cup to my lips, the steam reached my nose, and the smell of the tea

cup. Something wasn’t right, I could feel it in my

of nowhere and rushed toward my son. Before I could react, the young woman grabbed him and glared at me.

laughed cruelly as Finnick tried to break free from her

–

laugh only grew louder as he

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

said cryptically as his lips curled into a

his words sank

knew

his cruel gaze that this man wasn’t the shopkeeper and that Finnick wasn’t

I was.

I pleaded. “I’ll do anything,

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

but the