**Chapter 4: Panic Sets In**

The sound of shattering glass and crunching metal still echoed in the air as Kaito's family rushed to the scene of the accident. The smell of smoke and oil hung heavy over the pavement, and the flashing lights of the paramedics' vehicles cast an eerie glow over the crowd. Akira, Kaito's twin sister, was the first to arrive, her eyes scanning the chaos until they landed on Kaito's battered body. "Akira, what's going on?" Taro, Kaito's alpha brother, shouted as he pulled up in their car, his voice laced with worry. "Kaito...he's been hit," Akira stammered, her voice trembling as she knelt beside her brother. The paramedics were working to stabilize Kaito, their faces set in determined lines as they inserted an IV and attached monitors to his body. Kenji, the brother who was supposed to pick Kaito up, looked like he had been punched in the gut. His face was pale, and his eyes were wide with fear as he stumbled towards his brother. "Oh no, no, no...I'm so sorry, Kaito," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. Lila, their beta sister, rushed forward, her hands fluttering over Kaito's body as if searching for something to hold onto. "What happened?" she demanded, her voice firm but shaking. The paramedic, a gruff but kind-eyed man, filled them in on the details. "He was hit by a truck. We're taking him to the hospital now." His words were like a punch to the gut, leaving Kaito's family breathless and reeling. The drive to the hospital was a blur of sirens and flashing lights. Kaito's family was packed into the back of the ambulance, their faces etched with worry and fear. Akira held Kaito's hand, her eyes brimming with tears as she whispered his name over and over. As they arrived at the hospital, the family was met with a flurry of activity. Doctors and nurses rushed to attend to Kaito, their voices hushed but urgent. The waiting room was a blur of beige and blue, the only sound the beeping of machines and the soft murmur of voices. Taro paced back and forth, his alpha energy radiating anxiety. "We have to do something," he muttered, his eyes scanning the room for someone to talk to. Lila sat down, her eyes fixed on the door to the ICU. "We have to wait," she said, her voice firm but shaking. Akira just sat, her eyes fixed on Kaito's motionless body. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of guilt and regret. Why had they forgotten about Kaito? Why had Kenji forgotten to pick him up? The minutes ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity. Kaito's family was trapped in a nightmare, unable to wake up. They were a family of alphas and betas, with Kaito being the only omega. They had always been a bit dysfunctional, but this...this was something else. Finally, a doctor emerged from the ICU, his face somber. "He's stable, but...it's going to be a long night," he said, his voice soft but serious. Kaito's family exhaled collectively, a mix of relief and worry etched on their faces. They knew that this was just the beginning of a long and difficult journey. As they filed into the ICU, Kaito's family was met with a sight that made their hearts ache. Kaito lay in the bed, his body battered and bruised, his eyes closed. Akira felt a sob rise up in her throat as she gazed at her little brother. She had always taken him for granted, assuming he would always be there. But now...now she wasn't so sure. As they stood there, frozen in shock and grief, Kaito's family knew that they had to make a change. They had to learn to appreciate each other, to prioritize their relationships. They couldn't afford to take anyone for granted again. The guilt and regret were already starting to set in, like a slow-moving tide. Kaito's family knew that they would have to confront it head-on, to work through their emotions and come out stronger on the other side. For now, though, they just stood there, holding Kaito's hands and whispering their apologies into the silence. The machines beeping around them seemed to fade into the background as they focused on the one person they couldn't lose: Kaito.