**Chapter 1: The Forgotten One**

In the warm, sun-kissed suburban town of Oakdale, where houses sprawled across lush green lawns and tree-lined streets, lived the bustling Ross family. A family of seven, with six of them being either alphas or betas, while the youngest, Kendrick, was an omega. At just 15 years old, Kendrick stood at a mere 5'0", often getting lost in the crowd of his towering siblings. The Ross family was a loving one, but with so many children, it was easy to see how one might get overlooked. Kendrick's older twin sister, Emily, was the apple of everyone's eye. Her bright smile and kind heart had won over the hearts of everyone in the family, and often, in the community. She was the glue that held the family together, always ready with a listening ear and a comforting word. Kendrick's other siblings, all alphas and betas, were just as remarkable in their own ways. There was alpha Jackson, the eldest, who had a natural leadership quality that commanded respect. Beta Ava, the fashionista, was always stylish and on-trend. Alpha Ethan and beta Lily, the twins, were both athletic and musically inclined. And then there was beta Caleb, the bookworm, who had a passion for reading and learning. Kendrick, on the other hand, often felt like he was invisible. He would try to join in on conversations, only to be talked over or ignored. His parents, though well-intentioned, would sometimes forget to include him in family plans or events. It was as if he was a ghost hovering on the periphery of their lives. One fateful day, Kendrick's parents had asked him to meet his siblings at the local park for a family picnic. However, in the chaos of getting everyone ready, beta Caleb had forgotten to pick Kendrick up from school. Kendrick had waited for what felt like an eternity, but as the hours ticked by, he began to worry. As the sun started to set, Kendrick decided to walk home, his heart heavy with disappointment and sadness. The walk was long, and the sun was beating down on him, making him feel weak and dizzy. As he turned the corner onto his street, he failed to notice a speeding car and stepped right into its path. The next thing Kendrick knew, he was lying on the ground, his vision blurring in and out of focus. He was vaguely aware of a car screeching to a halt and people shouting. Then, everything went black. The Ross family was frantically searching for Kendrick, but he was nowhere to be found. It wasn't until they received a frantic call from a neighbor, informing them of the accident, that they rushed to the hospital. As they burst into the emergency room, their worst fears were confirmed. Kendrick lay on the hospital bed, his small body battered and bruised. The doctor's words hung in the air like a challenge: "He's lucky to be alive. If he had been just a few minutes later, it would have been too late." The family was consumed by shock, guilt, and grief. For the first time, they saw Kendrick not as the forgotten one, but as their vulnerable, fragile brother, who could have been taken from them in an instant. As they gathered around his bedside, holding his hand and whispering apologies, they realized that they had taken him for granted for far too long. The accident had brought the Ross family to its knees, making them confront the painful truth: they had forgotten about Kendrick, and it almost cost them their youngest son. As they wept and prayed for his recovery, they vowed to do better, to be more mindful of the little omega boy who had been hiding in plain sight. As Kendrick lay in the hospital bed, surrounded by his tearful family, he knew that things would never be the same again. He had been given a second chance, and he was determined to make the most of it. But for now, he just lay there, his eyes fixed on his family's faces, feeling seen and loved for the first time in a long, long time.