**Chapter 4: Panic Sets In**

Panic Sets In The darkness of the evening was slowly giving way to the faint light of dawn when Elijah's family realized that he was missing. It had been hours since Lucas was supposed to pick him up from the mall, and no one had heard from him. At first, they thought he was just running late or had gotten held up, but as the minutes ticked by, a sense of unease began to creep in. Emma, Elijah's twin sister, was the first to sound the alarm. She had been studying at home, and when Elijah didn't answer her texts, she tried calling Lucas. But he wasn't answering either. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she tried to reach out to the others, but no one had seen Elijah. As the reality of the situation began to sink in, panic set in. Elijah's parents, Mark and Sarah, sprang into action, calling out to the other siblings, asking if anyone had seen Elijah. But no one had. Mark, an alpha, was usually calm and collected, but now he was frantic with worry. He quickly grabbed his phone and started dialing, trying to reach Elijah's friends, but no one had seen him since he left the mall. Sarah, a beta, was beside herself with worry, her eyes scanning the streets, hoping to catch a glimpse of her youngest son. The family quickly sprang into action, searching the streets, calling out Elijah's name, but there was no response. Emma was beside herself with worry, feeling guilty for not keeping a closer eye on her little brother. She had always been the protective one, but now she felt like she had failed him. As the minutes ticked by, the family's anxiety grew. They had taken Elijah for granted, assuming he was always there, but now he was gone. The thought was unbearable. The others, Lucas, Alexander, and Olivia, all felt a sense of guilt wash over them. Lucas, who was supposed to pick Elijah up, felt especially responsible. He had been so caught up in his own problems that he had forgotten about Elijah. As the night wore on, the family's search efforts grew more desperate. They combed the streets, calling out Elijah's name, but there was no response. The police were notified, and soon, the streets were filled with sirens and flashing lights. The family's worst fears were confirmed when they received a call from the hospital. Elijah had been hit by a car and was being rushed into surgery. The family was torn apart by grief and guilt, knowing that they had taken Elijah for granted. As they rushed to the hospital, they couldn't shake off the feeling that they had failed Elijah. They had always assumed he was okay, that he would always be there, but now he was fighting for his life. The drive to the hospital was a blur of tears and recriminations. Emma was crying uncontrollably, feeling guilty for not being there for her brother. Lucas was beating himself up over his mistake, wishing he had been more careful. The others were in shock, unable to process what had happened. They had always taken Elijah for granted, assuming he was invincible, but now he was lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life. As they arrived at the hospital, they were met with a sea of worried faces. The doctors and nurses were doing their best to save Elijah, but it was clear that it wouldn't be easy. The family was ushered into the waiting room, where they collapsed onto the chairs, exhausted and grief-stricken. They knew that they had been given a wake-up call, a chance to make things right with Elijah. But as they waited for news, they couldn't shake off the feeling that they might lose him. The thought was unbearable, and it weighed heavily on their minds as they waited for any news of his condition.