THE LUNA THEY REJECTED CAME BACK RUTHLESS

Then Let It Find Me

The silence didn’t ease.

If anything—

It sharpened.

Because now we knew.

That thing wasn’t gone.

It was watching.

Learning.

Waiting.

And that meant—

Standing still wasn’t an option anymore.

“We can’t just wait for it to come back,” I said.

Kael didn’t argue.

“Agreed.”

“But how do we find something that doesn’t stay in one place?” I continued.

“That’s the problem,” he replied. “It’s not leaving a trail we can follow.”

I exhaled slowly, my mind racing.

Because if it could move between bodies—or worse—

Then tracking it normally wouldn’t work.

Unless…

My chest tightened slightly as the thought formed.

“There is one way,” I said.

Kael’s gaze sharpened immediately.

“What are you thinking?”

I hesitated.

Because I already knew he wouldn’t like it.

“It reacted to me,” I said. “Not just because I was there—but because of my power.”

Kael’s expression darkened.

“No.”

“You don’t even know what I’m going to say.”

“I know enough.”

I stepped closer, holding his gaze.

“If it’s learning from me… then it’s paying attention to me.”

“That doesn’t mean you use yourself as bait.”

“It means I can draw it out.”

The words settled heavily.

Because now—

This wasn’t just theory.

It was a plan.

A dangerous one.

Kael shook his head immediately.

“Absolutely not.”

“Listen—”

“No.”

His voice was firm.

Final.

“You saw what it did,” he continued. “You saw how fast it adapted. If you give it more access to your power—”

“I won’t let it take anything.”

“You said that before.”

Silence.

Because that—

That was true.

But this was different.

“I’m not talking about letting it in,” I said. “I’m talking about forcing it to show itself.”

Kael’s jaw tightened.

“And how do you plan to do that?”

I took a slow breath.

Then said it.

“I use my power.”

A pause.

Then—

“Not to attack,” I added. “To send out a signal.”

He didn’t move.

Didn’t react immediately.

Because he was thinking.

Calculating.

“And what happens when it responds?” he asked.

My chest tightened slightly.

“We’re ready.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one we have.”

Silence stretched between us.

Heavy.

Because now—

This wasn’t about right or wrong.

It was about risk.

And time.

Finally—

Kael exhaled slowly.

“You don’t push too far,” he said.

“I won’t.”

“And the moment it reacts—you stop.”

I nodded.

“Agreed.”

He studied me for another second.

Then—

“…Fine.”

The word didn’t sound like approval.

It sounded like acceptance.

Reluctant.

Careful.

But real.

The warmth inside me stirred again.

Not unstable.

Not out of control.

Ready.

Because this time—

I wasn’t reacting to something.

I was calling it.

I stepped forward slightly, closing my eyes as I reached for that energy.

Not forcing it.

Not rushing it.

Letting it rise.

Slow.

Controlled.

The warmth spread through me, steady and focused, no longer wild, no longer unpredictable.

This wasn’t about power.

This was about intention.

“Careful,” Kael said quietly.

“I am.”

I let the energy extend outward—

Not aggressively.

Not violently.

Just enough.

A pulse.

A signal.

A call.

And for a moment—

Nothing happened.

Silence.

Stillness.

Then—

The air shifted.

Subtle.

But unmistakable.

My breath slowed.

“It felt that,” I whispered.

Kael’s voice dropped.

“…Yes.”

The warmth inside me reacted instantly—

Not pulling.

Not pushing.

Alert.

Because something out there—

Something watching—

Had just noticed me.

And now—

It was coming. 😈🔥