Chapter 269 269 The Secret Strength Returned 2

Chapter 269 269 The Secret Strength Returned 2
Evening came, and the staff returned as instructed. They left the guest house and headed back to the mansion. Ethan felt restless but hopeful. He wanted to see Joseph soon. He wanted to hear everything Malcolm had decided and understand exactly where Sebastien stood in all of this. The idea that Sebastien might truly be on their side still felt strange, but if it gave them an advantage against the man in the shadows, Ethan would take it.
Joseph and Adam did not get home until midnight. By then, Joseph was tired, but his mind was too awake for sleep. He was eager to tell Ethan everything he had learned, and other than Brian, he instructed Adam not to tell anyone yet. They needed an element of surprise. They had one with Ethan’s legs, another with Sebastien’s true position, and possibly another with the warriors Malcolm was training in Ceenas. They could not waste any of it.
Having Sebastien on their side was a great addition, even if Joseph still did not fully like him. The two hundred warriors Malcolm had in Ceenas were also a blessing. With Keith’s hundred, that gave them three hundred warriors altogether. If the men were good, they could destroy an army. But Joseph believed their biggest advantage would still be Ethan. A walking Ethan. A healed Ethan. An Alpha everyone had foolishly written off.
As Adam left, Joseph’s mind briefly went to Dr James and the Alpha who had instructed him to place silver in Ethan’s back. He wondered what had happened to the doctor. Had the anonymous Alpha caught up with him, or had James managed to escape with the secret he carried? That was another loose end, and Joseph hated loose ends.
As much as he wanted to go straight to Vicky, cuddle her, kiss her and make love to her until all the dust of Ceenas left his skin, he knew he had to see Ethan first. Duty had been there before love, and even now, he could not ignore it. He reached Ethan’s wing and linked his brother before heading to his own room.
“Are you up?” Joseph linked.
Ethan was wide awake, though Meadow was fast asleep beside him. She was exhausted from the activities of the day and sleeping deeply enough that Ethan almost envied her.
“Yes,” Ethan replied.
“I am at your door,” Joseph said.
Ethan knew he was okay with Joseph knowing the truth now. He stood by the door and paused for a moment, taking in what he was about to do. Then he unlocked it and opened the door on his own two feet.
Joseph walked in and froze.
For a few seconds, he could not move. Ethan quickly shut the door behind him so no one passing by would see. Joseph stood there, staring at his brother like his mind refused to accept what his eyes were seeing. He had known this day would come. He had hoped for it. Prayed for it. Imagined it many times. But he had not expected it so soon, and he had not expected the sight of Ethan standing at eye level to hit him so hard.
Tears filled Joseph’s eyes before he could stop them. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Ethan. No words were needed. Ethan hugged him back and felt his brother’s joy through the bond between them. Joseph held him for a long while, gripping him as if he had just been given back something death had almost taken. He was glad. So glad. Ethan was back in a way Joseph had desperately hoped for, and witnessing it felt like a miracle placed right in the middle of chaos.
When Joseph finally pulled away, he wiped his eyes and looked at Ethan again, still a little speechless.
“Since when?” he asked quietly, careful not to wake Meadow.
Unknown to both of them, Meadow was already awake. Her hearing was too sensitive, and she was too light a sleeper to miss Joseph’s arrival. But she kept her eyes closed, pretending to sleep so the brothers could have their moment without feeling watched.
Ethan locked the door properly with a key so no one could barge in. Joseph moved to the couch and sat down, still looking stunned. Ethan joined him, and Joseph studied him like he needed to make sure this was real.
“Since when?” Joseph asked again.
Ethan smiled.
“A month ago, but I wanted Echo to be strong before showing you and Keith,” he said.
Joseph frowned slightly.
“Just Keith and me?” he asked.
Ethan nodded.
“I want us to have the element of surprise,” he explained.
Joseph understood immediately. Ethan did not need to elaborate. When the unknown Alpha attacked, he would believe he had only Joseph and Levi to deal with physically. He would come prepared for that. But he would not be prepared for Ethan, the most powerful and ruthless among them, standing again and ready to strike. That advantage could change everything.
“I agree with you,” Joseph said.
Ethan was glad his brother understood so quickly.
Joseph glanced towards the bed where Meadow was still pretending to sleep and smiled.
“How did she take it?” he asked.
Ethan laughed softly, remembering the day at the lake in the private park.
“She screamed,” he said.
Joseph’s eyes widened.
“Enough to get her voice out?” Joseph asked.
Ethan nodded, then looked at his wife with a softness that made Joseph’s chest warm.
“Camila has made some progress. She makes sounds from time to time but is yet to speak. They are trying to find the memory that buried her voice in layers. If she can recall the memory, Camila believes she will finally talk. I hope it will happen soon, but if not, I am still happy with her,” Ethan said.
Joseph was glad to hear the peace in his brother’s voice. Ethan wanted Meadow to speak, yes, but he no longer sounded like a man waiting for his life to become perfect. He had found contentment with her as she was, and that mattered.
“What’s with you and Vicky?” Ethan asked.
Joseph smiled before he could stop himself.
“We just realised we felt the same way all along,” he said.
Ethan understood that there was more, but Joseph had simplified it enough.
“How did Ashley take it?” Ethan asked, knowing Ashley had risked her life hoping Joseph would take her back.
Joseph relaxed into the couch, and the smile on his face changed. Ceenas returned to his mind, all the things he had learned settling heavily again.
He told Ethan everything. He told him Ashley was fated to Sebastien. He told him about Sebastien’s true game, River Pack, Donald, the fake exile, Malcolm’s involvement and how everything linked back to the anonymous Alpha. He told him about the rogues, the scouts, the army in Ceenas, and the suspicion that the same hidden bastard might have killed their father. By the time he finished, both brothers sat in silence, stunned by the size of what they had been pulled into.
Ethan could not believe Sebastien had been an ally all along. He admitted, quietly, that he had hated the man for a long time because he believed Sebastien had stolen Cynthia from him while he was crippled. Later, he learned Cynthia had deliberately left him for Sebastien. In a strange, ugly way, Sebastien had done him a favour where Cynthia was concerned. Ethan would forever be grateful for that, even if he had not known it at the time.
Hearing that they had two hundred trusted warriors from Ceenas ready to fight with them lifted something in him. Things were beginning to turn in their favour. They only needed the Alpha to show up now. Whether he went to Ceenas or came to Whitewood, they would be ready for him. And this time, the bastard would not know everything waiting for him.
The brothers discussed their plans for a long while before Joseph finally stood to leave. They kept their voices low, careful not to disturb Meadow, though she had heard more than they knew. When Joseph said good night, Ethan hugged him once more, shorter this time but just as meaningful. Then Joseph left in high spirits.
His own door was unlocked when he reached his room, and he hoped Victoria was in his bed and not in hers. The hope alone made him smile before he even stepped inside. When he opened the door and saw her wearing his T-shirt, sleeping in his bed, a deep satisfaction settled in his chest. She had stayed. She had waited. That did something to him.
Joseph went to shower quietly, trying not to disturb her. He washed the road and the stress of Ceenas from his body, then crept into bed wearing only his shorts. Victoria stirred almost immediately, waking to his scent before anything else. She opened her eyes and found him watching her with a soft smile.
“Good morning,” he said gently.
Victoria looked past him towards the window. It was still dark. Too dark to be morning, really, but before she could say anything, Joseph covered her mouth with his and kissed her fiercely.
She responded at once, and the sleep left her body like it had never been there. She came on top of him, her hands braced against his chest while he held her waist. Joseph had no plans to go anywhere in the morning. He would make love to her for as long as he wanted before falling asleep, because for once, he had something worth coming back to.
He took off her shirt, and she helped him out of his shorts. He was hard and ready, and she had no time for foreplay. Placing him inside her, Joseph let her ride while he guided her body with his hands on her waist.