The Unwritten Chapter

The soft knock at the door pulled Cael from the haze of sleep. Jade's voice called through the door, gentle but firm. "Cael, are you awake? Breakfast is ready."

Cael sat up, groggy but alert enough to respond. "I'll be down in a few minutes," he said, forcing his voice to steady. He opened the door just a crack, enough to acknowledge Jade before closing it again.

For a moment, he leaned against the door, taking in the stillness of the room. The interaction had stirred something deep inside him, an ache he couldn't quite suppress. Jade's simple gesture of calling him to breakfast reminded him too much of his siblings from his past life. His sisters, Janna and Anna, would burst into his room unannounced, leaping onto his bed with relentless enthusiasm, their voices teasing as they called him their "baby brother." It had been maddening then—endearing now.

Cael sighed and moved toward the bathroom to get ready, but his thoughts trailed him like shadows. He missed their chaos, their warmth. His family had been loud, imperfect, and everything he wanted now. His parents, Lee and Maria Johansen, had been simple but extraordinary in their love. They weren't rich or powerful, but they were perfect in their own way. Cael longed for his family traditions—skipping Halloween in favor of setting up Christmas decorations in September, the pointless but fiercely competitive gift exchanges with his siblings. The small, everyday moments he had taken for granted now felt like treasures lost to time.

His reflection in the bathroom mirror blurred as tears welled up in his eyes. A lump rose in his throat, and he couldn't hold it back any longer. The grief hit him like a wave, overwhelming and inescapable. He crumpled to the bathroom floor, tears streaming down his face as he called out the names of his family.

"Mom... Dad… Janna, Anna, Jonathan, David… What do I do?" he whispered between sobs, his voice breaking under the weight of his despair. For a moment, he wasn't Cael Baker, an omega in an unfamiliar world. He was El Johansen, the golden child who had lost everything.

Minutes passed as he wept, raw and silent, the emptiness in his chest spreading with every breath. Eventually, his cries subsided, leaving him kneeling on the floor, staring blankly at the tiles. He wiped at his face roughly, trying to push the pain back down where it couldn't suffocate him. "I need to figure this out," he muttered to himself. "Live this life... or find a way back home." The thought was cold, but he latched onto it like a lifeline.

With a shaky resolve, Cael forced himself to his feet and began preparing for the day. He washed his face, brushing away the lingering evidence of his tears, and got dressed. By the time he made his way downstairs, his expression was neutral, though his heart still felt like it was cracking under the strain.

Mrs. Chang noticed immediately. Her warm eyes softened as they landed on his swollen eyes, but she didn't press him. Instead, she placed a plate of food in front of him with a smile. "Your favorite," she said gently. "From when you were little."

Cael blinked down at the dish. His heart twisted painfully. The original Cael's favorite meal, lovingly prepared by a woman who treated him like her own. The gesture was kind, but it only deepened the hollow ache inside him. Still, he forced a smile and took a bite.

The meal was delicious, the kind of comfort food that made his chest ache with memories of home. Around the table, Jade and his other new brothers—Jack, Aeron, and Jin—chattered happily. Their presence was overwhelming at first; they were all so large, so confident, their Alpha and Beta statuses practically radiating off them. But as they spoke, teasing and laughing with him, Cael saw glimpses of the sibling dynamic he had lost. For a fleeting moment, he allowed himself to bask in it, smiling warmly at their banter.

Throughout the day, the brothers kept him company, sharing stories, showing him around the house, and ensuring he felt welcome. For the first time since waking up in this new world, Cael felt a flicker of belonging. It wasn't the same as home, but for now, it was enough.