William's way of moving changed subtly, almost imperceptibly. Normally, even when not looking for it, he stood out, his aura of power and imposing presence attracting attention, a gravitational pull that made him the center of attention.
But now, his steps practically seemed to float over the floor, the slight friction of his feet against the tiles barely producing a murmur, a whisper that faded into silence. His presence seemed to blur into the air, becoming almost ethereal, imperceptible even to the most heightened senses, to those who possessed superior perception thanks to their developed instincts.
It was a lesson in mastery in stealth, a skill that only the most trained Aballay, those who had dedicated their lives to honing their abilities, could master to that level of perfection.
It wasn't invisibility in the literal sense, but a dissimulation so perfect that an observer's brain, even one trained to detect the unusual, would tend to ignore it, to overlook it as mere background detail, an imperceptible speck in the landscape, an insignificant element on the periphery of their vision.
When William reached the half-open door to the room, he stopped, his body motionless, a statue of absolute attention. His eyes scanned the interior in minute detail, confirming the identities of the presences his senses had detected with such precision.
The information he had compiled in his mind, which he had processed in a matter of seconds, now manifested in the reality he observed, every detail matching his deductions, an astonishing truth.
"(The smallest one, the one sleeping curled up, must be Rose, a future omega…)" he thought, watching the girl snoring softly, an innocent and reassuring sound, curled up under a sheet that had slipped slightly, betraying the restless movement of her childhood sleep. Her scent was sweet and soft, that of childlike innocence in its purest form, though with a faint tinge of recent fear that William could detect with his keen sense of smell, a discordant note in the symphony of her aroma.
His gaze then fell on the figure reclining on a chaise lounge next to the master bed.
"(The oldest and the most beautiful is Erika…)" She slept in an awkward position, slightly hunched over, with a blanket that didn't quite cover her, and her arms crossed over her chest as if protecting herself even in sleep. His muscles seemed relaxed in deep sleep, but the way he lay, the way his body had adapted to that forced position, showed a familiarity with a history of sleepless nights and responsibilities.
"(She's probably used to sleeping like this, having to fill the role of mother and protector in the family. Her scent, even in sleep, was one of constant worry, of accumulated fatigue.)" A complex aroma that drew him in an unusual way, a mixture of vulnerability and power that both disturbed and attracted him.
Finally, his attention focused on the master bed, on the figure resting beneath a damp cloth on her forehead, a gesture of care.
"(And last but not least... the one wrapped in a cloth on her forehead is Melina... the alpha gamma.)" Despite being as sound asleep as her sisters, William noticed a slight frown cross her face, a sign of subconscious unease, and breathing that momentarily deepened, almost a guttural growl.
It was an instinctive reaction, the primal echo of her powerful alpha nature detecting an external presence, an intrusion into her space, even though her feverish body couldn't fully react, limited by illness. The girl didn't open her eyes, her consciousness wasn't fully alerted, and within seconds, her breathing returned to normal, sinking back into deep sleep.
A clear sign that, even in her weakness, the alpha's instinct was remarkable, a latent force that couldn't be ignored.
"(The Alpha Gamma)," William thought, his own inner voice resonating with the immensity of the revelation. "(Just like me. A creature of pure power, who is curiously linked to this omega.)" The connection was undeniable, almost predestined.
The older alpha gamma smiled, an expression of satisfaction that fell short of complete happiness, but rather an intellectual pleasure at having confirmed his hypotheses, at having solved an enigma even greater than he had expected.
His mind was already piecing together the chain of events that must have led Erika to miss her first day at the bakery, each piece fitting together perfectly.
"(Melina must be in the midst of a particularly burdensome developmental routine… apparently, it's something similar to what I once went through at her age.)" The thought resonated with an echo of his own past experiences, of the growing pains and transformations he'd endured in his own youth, the challenges of his own evolution. "(She'll be a force to be reckoned with when she grows up. A true force with a power that will alter the balance of this world.)"
The dark-haired man stood there for a few more moments, observing the young alpha gamma with almost reverent attention, an unspoken respect for her potential. He didn't move any closer, taking meticulous care not to invade her personal space, not to cross an invisible line.
His intuition told him that, despite her weakened state, the younger one might somehow sense his presence and react territorially, defending her nest with innate ferocity.
An alpha gamma, especially wounded or developing, was an unpredictable force, a latent volcano that could erupt at any moment.
Finally, he turned his gaze one last time to Erika. The omega stirred a little in her sleep, a low growl escaping her lips, a soft, almost inaudible sound, and she unconsciously scratched her nose before settling back into sleep. It was a small, mundane, insignificant gesture to most, but for William, who rarely allowed his emotions to get the better of him, it was a silent torture, such delight, and agony at once that he had to hold his breath, wanting to stifle the purr of joy he felt want to come out in response to the omega's innocent and adorable gestures, a reaction that surprised him with its intensity.
It was a primal reaction, an uncontrollable response of his own alpha nature, something he, with his iron discipline and absolute self-control, rarely allowed to manifest, and which now felt stronger than ever, in the presence of such a powerful and significant being.
He knew he couldn't stay any longer. If he delayed even a second longer, he risked losing control of himself, of succumbing to that primal impulse that drove him to claim her, to protect her, to simply be near her, to envelop her in his presence and not let go.
So he turned and with hurried, though still silent, steps left the hearth, leaving behind the warmth of the room and the enigma of its occupants.
The fresh air of early morning outside was a relief, a breath of reality that helped him compose himself, to return to being the unwavering Aballay the world knew, the cold and calculating figure.
But the image of the developing Alpha Gamma and the dormant Omega seared into his mind had already altered his plans in ways he couldn't yet foresee, a seismic shift in the landscape of his existence, one that promised a future far more fascinating and complex than he had ever imagined.
The game had changed completely before it had even truly begun.