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?”

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

and then he turned to the

“Of course, young man.”

hustled right over to the pen of puppies. The little dogs swarmed toward him, and their body language, shifted from guarded to ready for love. They all jumped up and began to beg for his attention.

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 the joy of being a child. Life in Anemond had been so difficult lately. He deserved some happiness, if only for a moment.

The animal was a fluffy little thing with big black eyes. and a wet

to face me with a hopeful expression and it took all of my effort to keep from caving in. I simply shook my head and offered him ah

can maybe get you some new toys from the market, but we can’t get a puppy,” I explained. “I’m sorry,

dejected, and suddenly, his eyes began to water. The sight of him so sad was almost enough to bring me to tears as well.

me and offered me a kind

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

and I accepted the cup. “That’s very kind of you to

offer.”

at all,”

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

lowered the cup. Something wasn’t right,

could react, the young woman grabbed him and glared at me.

and she laughed cruelly as Finnick tried to

–

only grew louder as he

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

his lips curled into a mean smile. “Emmett Keller sure did help with that, didn’t he?”

as his words

man knew Emmett?

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

I was.

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

“And if you

the man’s eyes narrowed.