Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

Chapter 10

Chapter 10 Savior

CA SSANDRA

“Finnick!” I cried.

“Mommy!” Finnick shouted back through tears. “Mommy, help me!”

I shined the flashlight over the rocks and coordinated a small path. I could get a better look at the situation if I shifted a little around them.

“Hold on, baby,” I pleaded. “Mommy is going to help. Just keep breathing.”

“Okay,” Finnick whimpered, and the sound tugged at my heartstrings.

I followed the beams of light and made my way down over the rocks. It was a little difficult to navigate, but I had to save my son.

When I reached the bottom, I shined the flashlight around me to get my -bearings, and when I did, I realized we were at the entrance of a small cave. Somehow, Finnick had managed to stamp on it and get caught in between rocks.

“Keep breathing, Finnick,” I urged him as he wiggled and writhed. “I think I can get you out.”

I carefully climbed back up to the top of the rocks and over to Finnick. Even in the dark, I could see his cheeks were soaked from his tears. His lower lip trembled, and for the first time in a while, he was truly upset, not that I could blame him. I was on the verge of tears myself, but I needed to stay strong. I couldn’t break down, not

now.

“I’m going to try to pull you out,” I warned him. “Can you give me your arms?”

“O-okay,” Finnick stammered, and he held his arms out in front of him. I carefully grabbed onto them and after I steadied my stance to make sure I was stable, I tugged. Finnick whimpered, and when I tried again to pull him out, he cried out.

“Owww,” he whimpered. He was caught and most likely injured. My head spun a little bit as the guilt began to set in. If only I had held onto Finnick’s hand, perhaps. he wouldn’t be in this position.

Suddenly, a strange growl interrupted us, and I jumped in surprise.

“Mommy!” Finnick screamed. The growl had come from behind us. My entire body shook as I turned around and pointed my flashlight in the direction of the sound, and then my eyes widened in horror.

It was a bear.

The beast’s eyes flashed green and it growled again as it shifted a little from the light beam. This time, the sound was louder, and I caught a glimpse of the novelbin

animal’s teeth as is widened its mouth.

We were in trouble.

I carefully moved in front of Finnick, facing the bear. My body continued to shake in fear, but I couldn’t let anything happen to my son.

“Shh,” I whispered to him. “Stay quiet.”

The bear watched me move and narrowed its eyes. It growled again and took a small step forward, and then one to the side.

I was surprised it hadn’t attacked us yet. Perhaps it wasn’t hungry, and we were just trespassers in its territory.

I

As the bear considered its actions, I slowly reached into my pocket and pulled

out my knife.

When I was a young girl, I’d heard stories of werewolves fighting bears during their hunts in graphic detail. The stories would involve a lot of blood, tearing of limbs, and then the heads of their kills being shown off to Pack members as trophies. I’d never seen a bear head for myself, but I knew there was likely some truth to the tales. Of course, I couldn’t shift anymore.

As much as I wanted to fight the bear like a true werewolf, I was incapable.

This plan to leave Wegalla had been careless. How stu pid it was of me to think we could get through this forest safely.

The bear let out a roar. Perhaps it had finally grown annoyed, or maybe it had taken me for one of the werewolves who’d been out hunting today. Either way, the bear was riled up and ready to strike.

When it lumbered forward, I gripped the knife tightly in my hand. This was it. We were going to fight.

The bear was bulky, and its movements were a little clumsy as it came toward me. I stepped out quickly so our fight would be away from Finnick, and then. squatted down to avoid the bear’s massive paw. Adrenaline moved through me, and when the bear wiped again, I lunged out and sliced its paw.

The bear roared again in pain, and blood sputtered over the rocks. Moments later, it swiped again, and this time I wasn’t so lucky. It made contact with my arm, and my shoulder cried out as something cracked.

I screamed, and Finnick behind me started to wail in terror. As the pain set in, I realized I had two choices. I could crumple to the ground and give up, or I could

continue to fight and save us.

So, I gathered all of my bravery, and as the tears streamed down my cheeks, I lunged again and shoved my knife into the bear’s chest.

The beast howled and shuddered as I pushed it in further, and then it pushed me aside with its arm. I fell to my feet and clutched my shoulder. My knife had been useful, but it was now trapped in the bear. I had nothing to defend myself with.

The bear swiped its paw in the air, and I had this sick feeling that it wanted my -head. It leaned back on its haunches, as if it were preparing to spring.

I got down on the ground. This was inevitable. I didn’t see a way out of this. As the beast howled and roared, I crawled over to Finnick. My son was sobbing, and I immediately threw my arms around him.

“Don’t cry,” I urged him. “Don’t cry, baby. I love you so much.”

“Mommy-” he started to say, but his words dissolved into s obs. I let go of him after a moment and began to dig at the rocks that surrounded him.

“When I get these out, I’m going to need you to get in the cave,” I urged him.

“Mommy, no,” Finnick pleaded, but I shook my head.

“You need to get down and into the cave!” I repeated myself, my voice hardened. I’d never spoken to Finnick like that, but this matter was serious. Finnick nodded, and I kept pulling up the rocks. They tore into my hands, but I managed to shift them and soon, Finnick was able to move.

“Come on, sweetheart,” I urged. He shifted a little, and then winced in pain. But my brave boy was strong. He helped me shift more rocks until the hole was big enough for him to move.

“I love you,” I said, and then I pushed him down slightly. “Duck down into the cave, Finnick. Don’t come out until I tell you to.”

Finnick did as he was told, and I watched as he disappeared down the hole and into the cave. Relief flooded through me. He was safe.

Behind me, the bear roared, and my life flashed before me. This was likely it. My son was safe, but I was about to meet my maker. I was living on borrowed time. anyway. I should have died five years ago.

1.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my back, and dizziness rushed through.

A voice called out from somewhere far away, but my vision was too clouded to see anyone. I began to shake as the pain took hold. For a moment, I was frozen, but then I managed to raise my head.

When I did, I saw someone I didn’t expect.

Asher Collins was approaching me.

“I’m sorry, Cora,” the Alpha King said smoothly. “I was late.”

“Asher?” I whispered. He reached out and touched my cheek.

“Can you forgive me?” he asked.

The world around me suddenly went fuzzy.

I was deluded. I had to be.