The rain stopped before dawn.
Mist clung to the trees around the cabin, curling low over the ground like pale smoke. Luna stood on the small wooden porch, wrapped in a thick sweater that did little to chase away the chill.
She could feel it again.
That quiet pull.
Not urgent. Not painful.
Aware.
"You're going to catch a cold."
Kael stepped beside her, handing her a steaming mug. This one smelled like tea and herbs.
"I don't feel cold," Luna said, accepting it anyway. "Not really."
"That's new," he replied.
She gave a weak smile. "Everything is new."
They stood in silence, listening to the forest wake. Birds stirred. Branches creaked. Somewhere far off, a wolf howled.
Not threatening. Watchful.
"Rhea left before sunrise," Kael said. "She's gathering the pack."
"For what?" Luna asked.
Kael hesitated. "For you."
Her grip tightened on the mug. "I don't want followers."
"You don't get to choose that part," he said gently. "Only what you do with them."
Luna exhaled slowly. "That's what scares me."
Before Kael could respond, a sharp pain flared behind Luna's eyes.
She gasped, staggering.
Kael caught her instantly. "Luna?"
"I saw something," she whispered. "Or… felt it."
"What?"
"Campus," she said, breathing unevenly. "The dorms."
Kael's expression darkened. "Another death?"
"Not yet," Luna said. "But soon."
Her knees weakened. Kael guided her to sit.
"There's a girl," Luna continued. "She's being watched. The same way I was."
Kael swore softly. "Adrian's followers."
"They're looking for someone else now," Luna said. "Someone like me."
The realization hit hard.
"This won't stop," she whispered. "Not unless I do something."
Kael crouched in front of her. "You are not responsible for every supernatural threat in the world."
"Maybe not," Luna said. "But I'm responsible for the ones I can feel."
She met his eyes. "I need to go back."
"No," he said immediately. "The council is watching."
"So are the monsters," Luna replied. "I won't hide while students die."
Kael closed his eyes briefly, then nodded. "Then we don't hide."
Campus was quieter than Luna had ever seen it.
Classes remained suspended. Yellow tape cordoned off buildings. Security cars idled near the entrances.
Students whispered. Parents called. Fear hung in the air like fog.
Luna walked beside Kael, her senses wide open.
There.
She stopped suddenly near the dorm courtyard.
Her chest tightened.
"She's close," Luna said.
A scream shattered the silence.
They ran.
Behind one of the dorm buildings, a young woman lay pinned against the wall. A man stood over her, eyes glowing faint red.
He turned as Luna approached.
"You're too late," he sneered.
Luna stepped forward, her voice steady. "Let her go."
The vampire laughed. "Or what?"
The silver mark warmed.
Luna lifted her hand.
"I don't want to hurt you," she said honestly. "But I will."
The vampire lunged.
Moonlight flashed.
He slammed into the ground, frozen in place by bands of silver light.
Kael was beside the girl instantly, cutting her free.
She sobbed, shaking. "I didn't know. I swear."
Luna knelt beside her. "You're safe now."
The girl nodded frantically and ran as soon as Kael let her go.
The vampire struggled, snarling. "You think this makes you a savior?"
Luna looked down at him. "No."
She tightened her fingers.
The light flared.
The vampire screamed as his body dissolved into ash, carried away by the breeze.
Luna staggered back, breathless.
Kael caught her. "You didn't hesitate."
"I hated that I didn't," Luna whispered.
Sirens wailed in the distance.
Kael pulled her into the shadows. "We need to move."
As they slipped away, Luna glanced back at the empty courtyard.
People would talk.
Rumors would spread.
The supernatural world already knew her name.
And power, she was learning, always demanded payment.
Tonight, she had paid in blood.
And it would not be the last time.