Chapter 16: Unexpected Ally

Lila's POV

The past few days had been surreal, and if I was honest with myself, terrifying. Between strange symbols, mysterious creatures, and Dominic’s influence inching closer to our lives, it felt like my reality had completely tilted on its axis. The moment I thought I’d gotten a handle on things, something new would pull me back into the unknown. And now, it seemed the unknown had a face. Nathan Cross.

I’d known his name only because Ethan had mentioned him as a spy—a man Dominic had planted in Silverwood, a shadow in the corner watching every move we made. I never imagined he’d turn around, though, and certainly not for reasons that made sense to me. But here he was, and his cautious messages hinted at more danger, and perhaps more betrayal, than I’d imagined.

I glanced at my phone, still blinking with his last message: *Meet me tonight. I have something you need to hear. Something about Dominic’s next move.*

As if I didn’t have enough reasons to stay home and out of trouble, but this wasn’t something I could ignore. 

---

The evening was quiet as I stepped out of my house, making my way to the clearing where Nathan had suggested we meet. The trees overhead felt like a canopy of secrets, shrouding everything in shadows. Every crackle of leaves or rustle of branches set my nerves on edge, making me scan the dark forest for any sign of movement.

And then, out of the gloom, a figure emerged. Nathan’s tall, dark form leaned against a tree, his expression unreadable, though he looked around just as cautiously as I did. 

“Lila,” he greeted in a hushed tone, his gaze flickering to the trees around us. 

“Nathan,” I replied, my voice low. “You wanted to talk?”

He nodded, the flicker of urgency in his eyes undeniable. “Look, there’s something you need to know about Dominic’s plans. This entire time, he’s been gathering forces, looking for weaknesses, but he’s also been… misled. Someone’s been feeding him false information, hoping to divert his attention from what’s really happening.”

I frowned, struggling to understand the game Dominic was playing. “Why tell me? Why betray him now, after all this time?”

Nathan’s jaw clenched, his eyes distant. “I didn’t sign up to hurt innocents, Lila. And I didn’t expect… I didn’t know he’d go this far. Dominic’s not planning on just taking over Ethan’s pack. He’s after something much darker. And you’re right at the center of it.”

A chill ran down my spine. “What does that mean? How am I involved?”

Nathan hesitated, his face tight with something almost like remorse. “He’s been trying to unlock a power that can only be controlled by someone with a certain bloodline. He thinks you’re the key.”

The idea felt absurd, yet, given the strange things happening around me, not entirely surprising. The symbol, the creatures, the forest… all of it seemed to point toward something bigger, something I hadn’t yet begun to understand. 

“Nathan, you need to tell Ethan all of this,” I urged. “He needs to know everything you just told me.”

He shook his head, his eyes darkening. “I can’t risk it. If Dominic’s men find out I’ve been talking to you, I won’t make it out alive.”

I reached out, my hand brushing his arm. “You don’t have to do this alone. We can protect you.”

He gave me a small, sad smile, his gaze lowering. “I appreciate that, Lila, but I’m too deep in this to just walk away. My only chance is to get this information to you and hope it makes a difference.”

He reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a small piece of paper. “This has the details you’ll need. Dominic’s movements, his allies… everything. Get it to Ethan and be careful. Trust no one.”

A strange unease settled over me as I took the paper, tucking it away in my pocket. The weight of his words pressed on me, an ominous warning that felt as heavy as the thickening shadows around us. 

“Thank you, Nathan. I’ll get this to Ethan.”

He gave a small nod, a flicker of relief crossing his face. But before I could turn to leave, a low growl filled the air, sending a chill down my spine. Nathan’s face twisted in fear, and he turned, his eyes darting around the clearing.

“Run, Lila,” he hissed. “Get out of here, now.”

My heart hammered in my chest, and without a second thought, I took off, sprinting through the underbrush as quietly as I could. I didn’t look back, but I could hear the sounds of a struggle, Nathan’s voice muffled by the growls and snarls that tore through the forest. 

I ran until my legs ached, until my lungs burned, my mind reeling with what I’d just learned and the terrifying realization that Dominic’s reach was everywhere. 

---

By the time I reached Ethan’s house, my breaths came in gasps, my hands shaking as I pounded on his door. 

Ethan opened it, his face etched with concern the moment he saw me. “Lila? What happened?”

I couldn’t get the words out fast enough. “Nathan. He told me Dominic’s planning something. He gave me information… but he got caught.”

Ethan’s face darkened, his jaw tightening as he pulled me inside. “Where did this happen?”

“In the clearing near the forest’s edge. Dominic’s men must have followed him. He told me…” I hesitated, taking a shaky breath. “He told me that Dominic thinks I’m the key to unlocking some power.”

The weight of it all hit me in that moment, the full gravity of what I’d just heard. I didn’t even know what this power was, or why I was supposedly linked to it, but Dominic had been searching for me, waiting for this moment.

Ethan’s hand found mine, his touch grounding me. “Lila, we’ll figure this out together. Whatever Dominic’s after, he won’t get to you. I won’t let him.”

I nodded, my chest tightening as I clutched the slip of paper Nathan had given me. It felt like the only shield we had against Dominic’s plans, and yet, with Nathan’s capture, it didn’t feel nearly enough. 

Ethan glanced at the paper, his eyes narrowing. “We’ll need to go over this carefully. Dominic’s cunning. He’ll have planned for every angle.”

He led me to the living room, where he spread the paper across the coffee table. The scrawled notes were a map of deception and treachery—a list of Dominic’s allies, movements, and a crude drawing of some kind of emblem I didn’t recognize. 

“Have you seen this before?” Ethan asked, pointing to the drawing. 

I shook my head, frowning as I traced the lines of the emblem. It was oddly familiar, yet foreign, as though I’d seen it somewhere, in a dream or a memory just out of reach. 

“Lila,” Ethan murmured, his eyes watching me carefully. “This emblem is a mark of the ancient bloodline Dominic’s after. If he thinks you’re connected to it, it means he’s planning to draw you in, use you to access whatever power he believes you hold.”

I swallowed, the weight of his words settling heavily on me. “What does he hope to gain from it? Why would he go to these lengths?”

Ethan’s gaze darkened, and his jaw clenched as he glanced back at the paper. “He wants to control the packs, Lila. And to do that, he needs something stronger than brute force. He needs magic—ancient magic.”

A shiver ran through me, the pieces slowly clicking together. “So he thinks I’m the missing link?”

Ethan nodded, his hand reaching to gently grip my shoulder. “He’s wrong, Lila. We’re not going to let him near you. Whatever plans he has, we’ll dismantle them before he gets a chance.”

I took a deep breath, forcing the fear to the back of my mind as I looked into Ethan’s eyes. There was a fierce determination there, a promise that he’d stand by me, no matter the cost.

“Then we have to get Nathan out,” I said firmly. “He risked everything to get this to us. We can’t just leave him in Dominic’s hands.”

Ethan’s lips pressed into a grim line, and he nodded. “Agreed. But it won’t be easy. Dominic’s hold on his pack is absolute, and his reach is extensive. We’ll have to tread carefully.”

My chest tightened as I thought of Nathan, the risks he’d taken, the sacrifice he’d made to try to keep me safe. I owed him, and I wasn’t about to let his efforts go to waste. 

“We’ll get him out,” I whispered, more to myself than anyone else. 

Ethan squeezed my hand gently. “Yes, we will.”

As we poured over the paper, piecing together every bit of information Nathan had managed to relay, I felt the fire of resolve ignite within me. Dominic Kane may have planned for everything, but he hadn’t planned on the strength of those willing to stand against him. And as long as I had Ethan by my side, I wasn’t backing down.