The Returned Luna

e growled i

e sneered at him. This was the coward

never m

lly. I’m the best option of the pack!

ment, she saw Basil and Delia, dressed in fine

y enough. When I become a

nk he was? Who the hell had Basil thought he was? Prince or not, he was an arrog

, “No one wants to

ted as he dragged his gaze over her body,

ally be my luna. You can’t even hunt yet!” He laughed. “I don’t need t

and throwing it at him. The barrel burst apart against his ch

hell are y

blazing inferno in place of the small flickers she had felt as Laura. Laura had needed

ld be rude. She could be loud. She could curse and fight and defend herself however she wanted to. She didn’t have to m

it as free as Laur

d, gleefully. Show him ju

the rabbit from his hands and shoving him away from her door. He stumbled aside with a gas

, and don’t you ever come near me again, or I swear to

e couldn’t believe how arrogant he was to think that

d lifted his

to go pale and stumble back. The old woman, A

ed at Lucas, “You! S

nda’s voice and lower

r Ama

cked his head and scurried away. Amanda didn’t relax unti

k I’ll tell your father you’re more th

ng up for herself. She didn’t know how or when she had gained the confidence to curse out a would-be suitor, but maybe

of the rabbit and offer

away, “You’re still too skinny

house and setting the rabbit on the table. To celebra

rsing out arrogant men cou

letters to her father, and helping with the duties in the vil

Amanda pinched her cheek, fon

earance, enjoying the freedom from doing so, but when she

. Her features were reminiscent of Laura’s but younger, more at ease, vibrant, and truly beautiful. Laurel smiled at her reflection, shock

ld enhance or even compliment the young woman in the mirror. She didn’t want any of it anyway. Maybe she woul

ound her prey quickly and killed it just as quickly. As she return

!” Amanda embraced her tightly. “They’ve wo

at the patches in her dress and looked up at Amanda, unsure. She wanted to see her father, bu

… in such a s

oor and shoved a new dres

and

r years. In rags or silk, he’ll wa

e dress and nodded, “You

would be among the caravan of returning men, let alone anyone who may have seen

left their work for the day to come and see the returning procession, but

l fro

ver Blade. If we hurry, we c

e was no way that Amanda would be able to k

, “Go without

and kneeled, “I

ut Laurel huffed, “Come

kely end up at the back because she was carrying Amanda, but they would get there. Mothers carried

der, “Hurry! Hurry, Lau

eady feeling a bit worn out. She had never seen Amanda so happy. She knew from

he memory of her son to rest and enjoy the rest of her life with some measure of peace. With the threat of

at last. Would her father c

ur

and faster until she was near the front of the group and the small town rose from b

made