Althea led the silver-haired Omegas deeper into the forest of Roland, her senses stretched to their limits. The air here was thicker, heavy with an energy that hummed faintly against her skin. Every shadow seemed to move just slightly, like it was watching them.

  “Stay close,” she whispered, scanning the twisting paths ahead. “We don’t know what’s waiting out there.”

  The Omegas followed silently, their eyes wide and alert. Even though they were the same height as her, their slight frames and cautious movements made them look younger than they were. Each step brought the crunch of leaves underfoot and the faint, distant growl of creatures unseen.

  “This forest… it’s alive,” one Omega murmured. Her silver hair glimmered in the dim light as she ducked under a low branch.

  Althea nodded. “Yes. But alive or not, we have to keep moving. Safety is out there, somewhere.”

  A sudden rustle behind them made her spin. Her hand shot out instinctively. The gragofire—or a smaller predator—wasn’t in sight, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of being followed.

  “Something’s watching us,” she muttered.

  The Omegas pressed closer. One of them, a tall silver-haired woman with sharp amber eyes, whispered, “It’s not just the forest. Others… others are here.”

  Althea froze. “Others?”

  The Omega hesitated. “Patrols… from the higher kinds. Demi-lons, Semi-lons… Moultons. They don’t care for Omegas like us. If they see you… if they see us… trouble follows.”

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  Althea’s chest tightened. “Then we move faster. And stay quiet.”

  They continued through the forest, avoiding the open patches where sunlight revealed them too clearly. Althea’s mind raced as she tried to plan: where could they go, how could she protect them, and most importantly, how could she master this mysterious barrier power that seemed to act on instinct?

  A sudden snap of twigs drew her attention to a narrow path off the main trail. She motioned for the Omegas to follow. The path led to a small clearing, hidden by large ferns and low-hanging vines.

  “Safe… for now,” she muttered, lowering her hands. The barrier flickered faintly but held no energy—she had to rest.

  The Omegas settled on the grass, breathing heavily but keeping watch. Althea knelt beside them. “We need to learn more about these powers,” she said quietly. “If I can control them… we’ll have a chance to survive.”

  “Can you… teach us?” one Omega asked, her silver hair falling over her shoulder. “Maybe we can help too.”

  Althea smiled faintly. “Maybe. But first, I need to understand what I’m capable of. One thing at a time.”

  Suddenly, movement in the shadows caught her eye. She stiffened. A figure stepped into the clearing—tall, sharp-featured, with an air of authority that made her heart pound.

  A Moulton.

  Althea froze. The Moulton studied her silently, eyes glinting like steel. “You’ve caused quite the disturbance,” he said slowly, voice calm but dangerous. “I’ve been watching you… and you’re far from ordinary, aren’t you?”

  Althea took a step back, placing herself in front of the Omegas. “I don’t want any trouble. We’re just passing through.”

  The Moulton tilted his head, a faint smirk on his lips. “Passing through, and yet the forest itself seems to obey your command.” He gestured toward the faint traces of energy still pulsing around her hands. “Interesting.”

  Althea clenched her fists, trying to steady her nerves. “I said we don’t want trouble.”

  The Moulton’s gaze sharpened. “Careful, girl. Roland is not kind to those who claim power without understanding it. You’re… special. Dangerous… and potentially… valuable.”

  Althea’s stomach twisted. She didn’t know if he meant she could be an ally or a target. She didn’t trust him—and Roland had taught her that trust was a luxury she couldn’t afford.

  Before she could respond, a distant growl echoed through the clearing. The gragofire.

  Althea’s hands tingled again. The barrier instinct stirred inside her, ready to protect. The Moulton’s eyes narrowed as he watched her.

  “You’ll need more than instinct to survive,” he said quietly, stepping back into the shadows. “But we shall meet again, Chosen One.”

  And then he was gone.

  Althea exhaled, tension leaving her body in a shudder. She turned to the Omegas. “Okay… that was close. Too close. We need to move. Now.”

  The forest seemed quieter now, but the weight of what had just happened pressed down on her. The higher kinds were aware of her. They were watching. And Althea realized, with a pang in her chest, that the prophecy was not just words whispered by the Omegas—it was real.

  They had only just begun.