Underwater: The Silent Luna novel Chapter 202

Chapter 202

“You can’t come now; you just had surgery, Ethan. The pack isn’t safe anymore and isn’t ours for now. We do not know what

Sebastien and his bitch are planning. You can’t walk into a mess,” Joseph said.

He knew he sounded desperate. He was desperate. He was trying to think of Ethan’s safety, trying to protect the recovery they had

just won. Ethan needed time. His wolf genes had only just kicked in. His legs were not ready. His body had been opened. He could

not come back to a pack under enemy claim and political danger. Joseph said all of it in different words, trying to make the

argument strong enough.

But he knew it was weak.

There was no way Ethan would remain in the cabin after this news. Not when their mother was unconscious. Not when Whitewood

had been taken on the surface. Not when Dr Rosenberg was there and Dr James’s work needed checking. Not when everything Ethan

owned by blood and duty was on fire.

“My wolf genes have kicked in. I will continue my recovery at home. Besides, I would prefer Dr Rosenberg to attend to me and check what Dr James did. There is no time that I would not have to come home, Joseph. We will just have to keep our heads down to buy

time, but I do not want to be away from our mother,” Ethan said.

Joseph understood his point. He did not like it. He thought it was a bad idea. Every practical part of him rebelled against it. But he had no choice but to accept his brother’s resolve. Ethan was still Ethan. Injured or not, he would not be kept away from Amber. And maybe, as dangerous as it was, Whitewood needed him close. Maybe Joseph needed him close too, though he would not say that out

loud.

“Find out all the options to prolong her life; let us know if it is something we can take. There should be something that we can do to fix it or buy her more time. Occupy your time by finding out what we can do. I will be with you tomorrow,” Ethan said.

Joseph agreed because it gave him something to hold on to. Options. A plan. Something practical. Something that was not just crying by glass and staring at his mother’s still body. He would find out everything. He would turn the hospital upside down if he had to. If there was even one narrow road towards more time, he would drag it open with his bare hands.

They hung up, and Joseph stood there for a few seconds with the phone still in his hand. Then he returned to where Brian stood with Dr Rosenberg. He handed the phone back to Brian without really looking at him. His eyes went first to his mother through the

glass and then to Dr Rosenberg.

He owed the man an apology.

The thought tasted bitter, not because he did not want to give it, but because he know words were too small after what he had done. Dr Rosenberg still looked cautious around him. A little frightened. That made the shame worse.

“Dr Rosenberg,” Joseph started.

The doctor straightened slightly, but Joseph could see fear still sitting in him. Not dramatic fear. Controlled fear. The kind an older man tried to hide when he had already been insulted and threatened by someone with power over him.

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Chapter 202

“Dr James has confessed to his crimes. I owe you an apology. I apologise,” Joseph said, mustering all the courage not to sound Weak.

It was harder than he expected. Not because apologising was beneath him, but because admitting he had been wrong in that moment felt like cutting into himself. Still, he said it. He meant it. Dr Rosenberg breathed a sigh of relief. His shoulders lowered, and for a second his face crumpled with emotion he fought not to show. He nodded gently, fighting his tears, and Joseph felt even

smaller.

“I have served your family for thirty-five years, Alpha. I was there when Alpha Ethan was conceived and born; I was there when you were conceived and born. I attended to your parents’ health and cared for them; I never thought to harm any of you then. When your father died, it weighed heavily on me that we could not get to him on time to save him. I could have left the pack after he died, but I remained,” Dr Rosenberg said.

Joseph swallowed. Every word landed.

“I faithfully cared for your mother and Beta Levi and continued caring for you and your brother. It was my duty, and I enjoyed it.” Dr Rosenberg continued.

He was not speaking like a man trying to make himself look good. He was speaking like someone whose loyalty had been wounded. That was worse. Joseph had accused him of destroying a family he had spent most of his life caring for.

“Time and time again, I would get offers from other pack hospitals. Still, I remained because it wasn’t about the money anymore. The McClouds are like family. I always looked out for all of you,” Dr Rosenberg said.

Joseph did know that. That was why the shame hurt so much. Dr Rosenberg had been there in ways most people were not. Births. Illness. Injuries. Their father. Their mother. Ethan. Joseph. The man had seen them at their weakest and never used it against them.

“You, of all people, should know I do not have it in me to destroy your family. I have had countless opportunities to do so if I wanted to,” Dr Rosenberg said.

Joseph bowed his head slightly. He had no defence. Anger had made him blind. Pain had made him cruel. He had taken years of loyalty and crushed them under one accusation because he needed someone to blame.

“What happened to Alpha Ethan was unfortunate, but that was the first time I did not attend to his medical needs. Had I known that that was what they did, I would have found a solution quickly,” Dr Rosenberg said and looked at Joseph.

Joseph believed him now. Not because Ethan told him to. Not only because Dr James confessed. But because the doctor’s pain was

too real to fake.

“Please, I would like to monitor his progress,” Dr Rosenberg requested.

Joseph looked at him and nodded quietly.

“That can be arranged,” Joseph said.

Dr Rosenberg looked relieved that he had been cleared, but Joseph could still see the hurt beneath it. Being cleared did not erase the way Joseph had treated him. It did not erase the fear. It did not erase the insult. The doctor would get over it with time, maybe,

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Chapter 202

but not immediately. Joseph understood that. He would have to earn back that ease, if it could be earned at all.

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Underwater: The Silent Luna