Ch. 6..10: Alpha King’s Lost Luna Chapter 6-10
Chapter 6 Back to her nightmare
CA SSANDRA
My lip quivered as I searched for an explanation, and Asher rose from his seat. However, just as the Alpha King took a step toward us, the sleeping prince’s eyes
opened.
“Daddy?” the young boy managed. “What happened?”
Asher seemed to forget about us completely and turned his full attention to hist son. He squatted down beside the boy and took his hand.
“You’re awake,” he said in relief. “Oh, thank goodness. Do you feel any better
now?”
His tone was gentle, something I’d never heard from him before. Or perhaps I had, but the memories were buried now.
The young prince nodded and smiled at his father. “I feel better now, Daddy…”
“Do you remember what happened?” Asher asked quietly and when the boy shook his head, he sighed. “That’s alright. What’s important is that you’re safe and- feeling better than before. I’m so relieved.”
As he held his son’s hand, I noticed Finnick gazing at them longingly. It tugged at my heartstrings, but there was nothing I could do except get the both of us away
from here.
“We need to go,” I whispered, and I carefully took his hand in mine. Finnick’s eyes flashed, and for a moment, he appeared as if he wanted to say something more to Asher, but instead he just nodded. I knew he was still curious about why the Alpha King had the same eye color as him, but he was smart enough to know when it was time to quit asking questions. I knew he would probably bring it up on the way home, but I would deal with it then.
For now, I needed to leave Asher Collins to his Pack and go back to living my
own life.
“Your Majesty, may I leave with my son?” I asked Asher politely.
The Alpha King ignored me.
“Daddy, who is she?” the prince asked with a confused look in his eyes. “And who is this boy? Why are they here in our room?”
His lips pouted slightly, and for a moment, I was reminded of Adalyn. She used to pout in the exact same way, and it drove me crazy even back then.
Adalyn Moses was the daughter of the Beta and came from one of the most. prestigious families in all of Anemond. Once she took an interest in something, she would do anything to win it, no matter what it took. Clothes, fine jewelry, and even
love. She seized it all like she was entitled to it.
It appeared that her and Asher had spoiled their son in the same way. Even though I’d saved his very life, the boy glared at me as if I were some kind of peasant
intruder.
It took all of my being to not be offended by the child’s actions. While I hated entitlement and had tried to raise my son to know better, the prince was young. Hopefully he would learn differently in time.
“That’s the healer,” Asher answered, and after he brushed the prince’s hair away
from his forehead. “She took care of you.”
The intimate action took me by surprise. Asher wasn’t one to show affection, at least he hadn’t been back then. But he was clearly different now.
“Oh his son remarked, but he didn’t seem too impressed. “What did she heal
-me from? I don’t understand.”
“You were bitten by a viper,” Finnick spoke up helpfully.
“Shh,” I whispered, and I rested my hand on his shoulder. “Finnick!”
“A viper?” the prince repeated back, and his face grew alarmed. “You mean a snake?? I hate snakes, Daddy!”
“Yes,” Asher answered, and his eyes shot daggers in our direction. “You were bitten by a viper. But you’re alright now. Cas sandra and her attendant took good care of you and you’re going to be just fine. They gave you medicine and herbs to drink. Do you remember that?”
The prince frowned. “No. I don’t remember.”
Asher’s eyebrows creased together in concern.
“It’s probably from the fever, Your Majesty,” I spoke up in an attempt to ease the situation. “It isn’t unusual for someone who’s been under such stress and fever to not remember what they’ve been through. He’s likely very tired and just needs some
more rest.”
The Alpha King didn’t look fully convinced. His gray eyes looked like storm clouds as they glared at me, and for a moment, I was worried he was going to say something bad in front of Finnick. Asher had been prone to temperamental outbursts in the years I’d known him, and I wasn’t sure if that side of him still
remained.
Luckily for us all, he softened his expression, and laid his hand on his son’s
shoulder.
“You heard the healer,” he remarked. “You just need some rest, son, You’ll be just fine.”
“Oh,” the boy said again, and he went back to ignoring us.
Finnick tugged at my sleeve nervously, and I ran my hand through his hair. I’d never wanted to leave the Pack House more than I did at this moment.
“Can we leave, Your Majesty?” I decided to ask again. “My son could use some rest as well and we live a little distance from here.”
An eternity passed as I waited for an answer. Finally, after a minute, Asher
glanced over at me.
“You can leave, Ca ssandra,” the Alpha King said in a bored tone of voice.
Relief flooded through me and it took all of my patience to keep from sighing.
“Thank you, Your Majesty-” I started to say, but he cut me off with a raise of his
hand.
“When you return home, pack your things,” he said sternly. “You’ll be leaving with us in two days’ time.”
My jaw dropped open.
Leaving?
What did he mean by that?
“E-excuse me?” I managed to say. “What do you mean, Your Majesty?”
“You’re returning with us to Anemond,” the Alpha King said without looking at me, and my heart dropped.
“What?” I blurted out, and for a moment, I forgot to maintain an air of respect. What in the world did Asher Collins mean? Why would I be returning with him to
Anemond?
“It should be simple enough for you to understand,” Asher sighed, and when he glanced over at me, he raised an eyebrow. “I need to make sure Marco fully recovers and that there’s nothing suspicious about the herbs you used on him. The royal family cannot be too cautious, not these days, and besides… you should be honored to be allowed to enter Anemond. Not many in your station are allowed into the
capital.”/
Silence fell as his words crashed over me, and I broke into a panic.
Anemond.
I’d done everything in my power to forget everything that’d happened there.
And now he wanted me to face it all again.
Chapter 7 Bad guy
CA SSANDRA
“Mommy, what’s going on?” Finnick whispered, and he stared up at me with widened eyes. I froze in place, unsure of how to answer him. Surely, the Alpha King
couldn’t be serious.
Me, go with him to Anemond?
I studied Asher’s expression and wondered if he’d seen past my changed face.
and voice. Had he discovered it was me after all? No. There was no way.
Regardless, why would he bring me there? As the capital city of the Wegalla Empire, there were countless outstanding healers that resided there. While I knew I was good at my job, I didn’t believe for a moment that I was any more talented than any of them.
If anything, I could just write down the list of herbs I’d used and have the ser vants pass it along to the royal healers, and if something was amiss, they knew
where to find me.
“I-I don’t understand, Your Majesty,” I asked him. “Why bring me all the way to
Anemond?”
“Must I repeat myself?” the Alpha King sighed and he shook his head in frustration. “I thought you were smart, but perhaps I’m giving you too much credit.”
Anger s piked within me, but I ignored it.
“Begging your pardon, but I have patients here in the Wild Crawler Pack I must attend to,” I brought up in hopes he’d change his mind. “Many of them require. treatment that only I can administer.”
“Isn’t that why you have an assistant?” Asher retorted.
“Well, yes,” I admitted. “But I can’t just leave her to do all of the work. It takes
both of us to run the clinic.”
“This isn’t a discussion, Ca ssandra,” his voice hardened as his impatience grew. “It’s an order. You will comply or else suffer the consequences. I doubt you wish to subject your son to any sort of punishment.”
The Alpha King was right. I couldn’t refuse, not when it was a royal decree. I had to do what was right and keep Finnick from harm’s way.
“No, Your Majesty,” I replied quickly, and I held Finnick close.
“Now, leave us,” Asher commanded. “Return home and prepare your things.”
“Yes,” I said, and after I rose to my feet, I bowed in respect. “Your Majesty.”
Finnick and I left without another word, and once the doors were closed behind us, my son grabbed my hand.
“Mommy,” he whispered. “He scares me.”
“Shh,” I whispered back, and I glanced around to make sure no one had heard him. “You mustn’t say such things, not until we’re home, okay?”
“Sorry,” he apologized.
I led Finnick down the stairs, and after I waved goodbye to Jasper, we left the
Pack House.
It was nearly nightfall, and the moon shone bright above us as we walked down the gray stone path back toward town.
“Did you eat dinner?” I asked Finnick, and my son nodded.
“Yes,” he said. “Auntie Sofia gave us soup and cr ackers.”
“Good,” I replied simply, and I made note to thank the Luna for watching my son and taking care of him while I was working.
As we headed toward our house, a few Pack members greeted us and wished us good evenings. I kept my responses polite but short. Now was the time the Pack. members would be heading home to celebrate their harvests, but I wanted nothing to do with any of it. Even if I had, I needed time to process everything that’d
happened that day.
Finnick stayed close to me, his fingers wrapped tightly around mine. I knew he could sense my frustration, so he remained quiet as we quickly walked, but after a while, he started to lag behind me. Soon, I dropped his hand without really noticing until he called after me.
“Mommy?” he said. “Please slow down!”
When I turned around, I noticed he’d stopped and was panting about ten feet behind me.
I rushed over to him and crouched down so I was eye-level.
“I’m sorry, honey,” I apologized. “I didn’t realize I was walking so fast.”
“It’s okay,” Finnick replied as he caught his breath. Once he was calm, his eyebrows creased together. “You look sad, Mommy.”
“No, I’m fine, darling,” I assured him, but he wasn’t convinced by my words.
“You said we don’t lie to each other,” he insisted, and his face was completely serious.
He was such a sensitive soul, and I knew he could tell I wasn’t okay. But what could I say? How could I explain the situation in a way that a child could
understand?
“Do you want to go to Anemond?” I asked him softly, and he immediately shook. his head.
“No,” he said.
“Why not?” I asked.
“You don’t want to,” he replied as if it was obvious. “If Mommy doesn’t like it, then I don’t like it.”
My sweet, loyal boy. He was so special, so empathetic. I smiled at him, and drew him into a hug. After a moment, I let go, and we resumed our walk. As we continued on, Finnick started asking more questions, and I did my best to answer
I
him without revealing too much.
“Mommy, he was that strange man?” he wondered, “You called him… M-Majesty.”
“He’s… um… an important official,” I explained simply.
“Is he from Anemond?” Finnick asked.
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Is he a bad guy?”
I paused, unsure of how to answer him.
“I don’t know,” I finally admitted. “I don’t know much about him, Finnick.”
“Oh,” Finnick replied, and that was that.
We didn’t talk about anything else the rest of the way home.
Once we got back to our small house, I carried Finnick up the stairs to his bedroom and carefully helped him into his pajamas. After he brushed his teeth, I brought him a glass of water and then tucked him into bed. Normally, I read him a story before bed, but neither of us seemed interested in that ritual tonight. So instead, I crawled under the covers with him and snuggled him beside me. He rested his head against me, and I ran my fingers through his soft hair, just like I had when he was a baby.
“Mommy?” Finnick asked in a clear voice, and before the words left his mouth, I
knew what he was about to ask.
“Yes, my love?” I replied calmly, even though my heart raced in my chest.
“Why did that man have gray eyes like mine?” he wondered. He sat up and turned his body around to face mine. His curious eyes were wider than I’d ever seen them, and his lower lip trembled slightly.
“I don’t know,” I whispered, but Finnick grabbed my hand. He took a deep
breath and then tilted his head to the side.
“Mommy, you told me it was the color of an angel’s wings,” he said. “You said it was a nice color.”
“It is, my love,” I said.
“But the man wasn’t an angel, was he?” he whispered so softly I almost didn’t. hear him. “He is a bad guy.”
“Shhh,” I said, and I brought the covers up over us. “Let’s get some sleep,
okay?”
“Okay,” Finnick replied. I snuggled him closer against me, and as he fell asleep in my arms, I couldn’t help but wonder if my child was right.
Was Asher Collins a bad guy?
Chapter 8 She had to run!
CA SSANDRA
I remained in bed with Finnick for a while and stared lovingly at his adorable face as he dreamt. Part of me could have stayed here forever, holding my sweet baby boy in my arms, but the other part knew there was so much to do.
I carefully tucked Finnick deep into the covers, and once I was sure he wasn’t going to wake, I quietly slipped out of his room and headed toward mine down the. hall. I gently closed the door behind me, and once it was shut, I released the sigh I’d been holding onto for hours now.
This was all such a mess, and there was only one thing I could do.
I had to pack- not for Anemond, but somewhere else.
I needed to take Finnick and run as far away as we could.
I didn’t see any other choice. My son and I couldn’t go to Anemond.
So, I started moving around my room and got to packing.
I grabbed only the essentials- a few pairs of clothes, some money I’d stashed away, necessary toiletries, and the legal documents I needed to hold onto for Finnick’s sake. We wouldn’t need much for now and couldn’t afford to be bogged down by material possessions.
In a little while, I would pack a bag for Finnick. I knew this was going to upset him, but I saw no other option. I would try to entice the offer as much as I could, but with how sensitive he was… I could only hope he would understand one day.
After I had some things set aside, I went to the bathroom and splashed some water on my face. When I stared at the mirror, I noticed my dark green eyes were bloodshot and my skin was paler than normal. I looked like a wreck, but I couldn’t
worry about that now.
So, I returned quietly to my room and found a notebook. I tore out a page and wrote a well-thought out note to Marley explaining the circumstances of my leaving. I knew that if my friend didn’t see me at the clinic tomorrow, she’d show up at my house and try to figure out what was going on.
I knew this was going to be difficult for Marley. The clinic was crowded with so many patients sick with whatever illness was plaguing the Pack. It was difficult to manage it all with two people, so I could barely imagine how she could do it all on
her own.
But I had no other choice.
Besides, Marley was well-qualified and a talented enough doctor to handle it. I. knew she would understand, especially when she got to the part of the note about Finnick. She knew our children were the world to us, and as my friend, I knew she would want what was best for the both of us.
Maybe, once everything was settled down, I could come back. The Alpha King would likely lose interest in a healer from a small backwoods Pack quickly. Perhaps it would all blow over in a couple of weeks, and Finnick and I could resume the lives
we’d built here.
Until then, we had to run.
I hadn’t been fully convinced of this decision until Finnick had asked his questions. If I’d obeyed orders, things would have become too dangerous for my son. He was eager to know all about the Alpha King, and I couldn’t fault him for his eagerness. So, we had to leave.
I was too afraid that Asher would find out about Finnick’s identity and lineage. I couldn’t lose my son. We had to get as far away from Asher Collins as possible.
I looked around at my room. It was paining me to know that we would have to -leave all of this behind indefinitely.
It was then I thought of Emmett.
This had been Emmett’s house. When he’d saved me from the deadly inferno
five years ago, he’d brought me out here. I’d been covered in blisters and my skin had been marred and blo ody. It took months to fully heal from the damage I’d sustained, but Emmett took the time to cure me. He’d saved my life and gave me shelter. Once I was better, he taught me to be the healer I now was.
Emmett had even married me so I could legally stay here in the Wild Crawler Pack. He didn’t love me, of course, but he still did it all anyway.
One day, I’d asked him why he had done all of this, why he’d take this risk to save someone who should have been dead back in Anemond. I asked why he’d bothered to save someone the royal family had wanted dead. He’d gotten a strange. look on his face and then offered me a simple answer.
“It’s a healer’s duty to help someone sick or in pain.”
Since then, I’d carried on this duty and worked hard to become a healer like him. I wanted to repay his gratitude by working hard and making a name for myself.
Emmett had died a year ago. He had been on his way to a neighboring Pack to help a patient, but he never returned. Reportedly, he’d been attacked, but they never found his body.
I found it hard to accept that he was gone, but only because he had been so strong. He was a very capable werewolf, though he hardly ever showed off his physical strength to others. Someone weak would not have been able to save me in that inferno, not to mention heal me over the course of a few months.
So, I held onto hope that he was still alive. I remained here in the Wild Crawler Pack and ran his clinic while I waited for him to return. A small part of me wondered if I was being overly optimistic. After all, there was a small chance that he had died in some kind of accident or attack. Or maybe, he just didn’t want to return. He had been a royer long before we’d met. Perhaps he’d gone back to that life and couldn’t say goodbye to me.
I could have left long ago. In fact, I should have left Wegalla and settled down. elsewhere, somewhere far away from my past where I wouldn’t have to worry or be under the rule of someone like Asher Collins.
But, there was no time like the present. I couldn’t wait any longer, not when the danger was nearly at our doorstep. I wouldn’t go back to Anemond and neither would my son.
I glanced over at the clock. It was approaching midnight.
The guards would begin their night shift soon, but I had to take my chances. The Wild Crawler Pack was at the territory border of Wegalla. If I could get us out of here and through the forest, we could leave Wegalla.
We finally could leave my past, Asher Collins, and the threat of losing my son.
behind us forever.
I took a long deep breath and headed down the hall toward Finnick’s room. We had to go, and we had to go now if we were going to have any shot at surviving.
Chapter 9 Attack
CA SSANDRA
When I entered my son’s room, I half-expected him to be awake, but he was
fast asleep.
He had his arms wrapped around his favorite teddy bear, Teddy, and for a moment, I didn’t want to wake him up. He seemed so peaceful, and I was about to put him through so much stress.
But not as much as I would be if we went to Anemond.
So, I leaned down and gently touched his arm.
“Finnick,” I whispered, and when he didn’t rouse, I said his name again. After a moment, his nose crinkled and his eyes blinked open.
“Mommy?” he said, and he yawned lightly.
“Sorry to wake you, baby,” I said, and I gave him my most apologetic smile. “We have to go.”
“Go?” he repeated back in a confused voice. “Go where?”
“I’ll tell you on the way there,” I explained. “For now, we just need to get ready,
okay?”
Finnick nodded, though his gray eyes were concerned. I pulled the covers aside and helped him down. We walked over to the closet, and we got him dressed.
After I zipped up his jacket, I picked out a couple of fresh sets of clothes and packed them in a small backpack.
“Put this on,” I instructed him.
“Can Teddy come?” he asked hopefully, and he glanced over at the stuffed bear he’d left on the bed. I studied the toy carefully. We were running low on room, but Teddy was his favorite toy. I couldn’t ask him to leave it behind when I was already asking so much of him.
“Okay,” I said. “But we have to put him in your backpack, okay?”
“Okay!” Finnick agreed. We carefully put Teddy in his bag, and once he was secure it was time for shoes.
Finnick and I went downstairs, and after we were fully dressed, I did a quick scan of the house. It seemed like I had remembered everything we needed. I glanced at the clock. It was time to go.
I scooped Finnick into my arms and held him close.
“Hold on tight, baby,” I said, and I wrapped my jacket around him to conceal him
further.
I carried him out of the house and into the night.
The street was completely empty, with only the streetlights out to light our way. I glanced around and made sure we were alone. Luckily, everyone else seemed to be asleep. I held Finnick tight and then took off toward the forest.
fear.
On the way there, Finnick let out a soft sound of worry.
“Are we going to the forest, Mommy?” he asked, and his tone was painted with
“Yes, baby.” I said. “I’m so sorry we have to go there, I know you don’t like it. But I need you to be brave, okay?”
“Why do we have to go?” he pressed. I considered my words carefully.
“You were right before,” I decided. “The man we saw today. He’s very bad and very dangerous. So we have to go somewhere to keep us safe.”
It wasn’t a total lie. Asher Collins wasn’t a good man, especially considering
what he had done to me.
When Finnick didn’t reply, I asked him the question I know he didn’t want to hear. “Are you afraid?”
“No,” he said firmly. “I’m not afraid. Let’s leave. I’ll protect you. I can walk-”
“Not now, sweetheart,” I said quickly as he tried to wiggle in my arms. “Not before we pass the sentinels. Just stay here for right now.”
I held my son closer to my chest, and Finnick sighed.
“Okay,” he said simply, and he fell silent. It was for the best. Finnick would have been fine on foot, but there was a short interval just before midnight when there would be no guards around. This window was our only hope and it was minutes
away.
So, I quickened my pace and kept walking.
Not too long after, we made it there, and to my delight, there were no guards. around. I let out a sigh of relief and then walked straight into the forest..
After we made it a good way in, I set Finnick down and reached into my pack. I’d brought a flashlight, a compass, and a knife with me. Retrieved them all, and after I put the knife in my pocket, I turned on the flashlight.
The forest was pitch-black around us, so we needed to rely on the flashlight to see. I used the light to check the compass. I wasn’t an expert navigator, but I knew enough to get us through. We needed to avoid the forbidden section of the forest, so I had to find us a shortcut that would get us out of Wegalla, If I timed things. correctly, we could be on the other side of the forest by the morning.
In the meantime, I needed to take every precaution to keep us safe. Now that I couldn’t shift, I needed to keep my wits about me and keep us from making too many sounds or running into any predators.. Luckily for us, my father had taught me how to use a knife when I was a girl, but I’d never had to use one before.
I took Finnick’s hand in mine. This was his first time entering the forest, and I could tell he was scared because his palms were wet. I felt pangs of guilt go. through me. Putting Finnick in this much danger wasn’t fair, but I had no other choice. I couldn’t let the nightmares of Anemond come back to me, not again, and I wouldn’t let them take my son.
So, we began our walk through the forest.
At first, the two of us were too afraid to speak. We continued on for an hour in complete silence, carefully maneuvering through the sp ikey trees together.
Once we were a little further in, I relaxed my grip around Finnick’s hand, and when I did, he cleared his throat.
“Mommy?” he asked me quietly.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“How do you know the man is bad?” he wondered.
I considered my answer carefully. “Well… I didn’t tell you earlier, but I do actually know the man. I’m sorry I lied about it.”
Finnick fell silent.
“I just didn’t want you to worry about it, baby,” I explained. “I didn’t want you to worry about me.”
“It’s okay, Mommy,” he said very maturely. “I understand.”
The boy was already wise beyond his years, and again, I found myself admiring his emotional intelligence. He was going to be an extraordinary man one day, but for now, he was my best friend.
Not too far ahead, fireflies began to light up, and Finnick grew excited. He dropped my hand and immediately rushed ahead.
“Look, Mommy!” he exclaimed, forgetting we needed to stay quiet. “I’m going to
catch it!”
“Finnick!” I called after him, but he kept going. He ran until I couldn’t see him anymore, and I started to panic.
“Finnick!” I called again.
Suddenly, I heard a gasp, a thud, and then a scream.
“Mommy!” Finnick yelled louder than I’d ever heard him before. I ran as fast as I could in the direction of his voice. Adrenaline kicked in and didn’t stop until I spotted the top of his head with my flashlight. I sped even faster as Finnick screamed again.
When I reached him, my heart stopped in my chest. Half of my son’s body had fallen into a hole and was trapped between rocks.
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
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.