Chapter 17: Rescue Mission

Lila’s POV

The moment Ethan and I decided to go after Nathan, it felt as if a ticking clock had started. Every second wasted was a moment Nathan might not have, a chance Dominic could exploit. The plan itself was shaky at best—but we couldn’t afford to wait any longer.

As I pulled my jacket tighter against the chill of the night air, I glanced over at Ethan. His expression was grim, eyes focused on the dark stretch of forest ahead. I could feel the tension radiating off him; this wasn’t just a rescue mission to him—it was personal. Dominic’s web was closing in on his pack, his home, and now Nathan, who had risked everything to help us.

“Are you sure about this?” Ethan asked, glancing my way with a flicker of hesitation.

I nodded, swallowing back my nerves. “Nathan trusted us enough to reach out. We owe it to him.”

His hand found mine for a moment, grounding me in his steady grip. “Stay close to me. Dominic’s spies could be anywhere, and he won’t hesitate to turn this against us.”

I nodded, heart pounding as we set out under the shadow of tall trees. The path leading to the hideout was thick with tangled roots and thorny underbrush, forcing us to move cautiously. The smell of damp earth and decaying leaves filled the air, adding a layer of tension as we crept closer to what could very well be a trap.

---

The abandoned cabin Dominic used as a hideout sat low in a clearing, nestled between trees like some kind of dark creature waiting to pounce. Even from here, I could see the faint glow of candlelight through the grimy windows. 

Ethan pulled me back, motioning for silence. His gaze swept over the cabin, then he leaned close to whisper, “We’ll go around, check for any guards or traps before heading in.”

My heart raced as we circled the cabin, keeping low as we moved. Every twig snap and rustle of leaves sounded like a cannon blast, making me flinch. We reached the back, and I caught sight of a figure tied to a chair through a crack in the wall. It was Nathan—head down, blood staining the side of his face. He looked barely conscious.

I felt a pang of guilt, wondering if he’d managed to hold out hope we’d come. Part of me didn’t want to imagine what Dominic’s men had done to him in the meantime.

Ethan gave me a quick nod, signaling it was time. “On three, we go in,” he whispered, his eyes narrowing as they fixed on the door. “I’ll take the lead; stay behind me and cover Nathan.”

I nodded, bracing myself as he began the silent countdown. *One… two…*

Three.

Ethan burst through the door, and I followed, my hands clenching around a flashlight we’d brought along as a makeshift weapon. The room was dark, save for the glow of the candles illuminating Nathan’s beaten form. The moment we stepped inside, two men rushed at us from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with a feral, unsettling light.

Ethan moved with lightning speed, blocking their attacks and engaging them in a brutal struggle. I rushed to Nathan’s side, reaching out to untie his bindings. His eyes cracked open, bloodshot and dazed.

“Lila…” he croaked, voice barely audible.

“Hold on,” I whispered, my hands fumbling as I tried to untie the thick knots around his wrists. My heart raced as I pulled at the ropes, each second feeling like an eternity.

A grunt of pain echoed from behind me, and I turned in time to see Ethan overpowering the second man, his expression a mix of anger and pure determination. But as he knocked him out cold, the third figure stepped out of the shadows.

Dominic Kane himself.

He wore a smirk, his dark eyes alight with something wicked as he clapped slowly, the sound echoing ominously in the quiet cabin. “How touching, really. The great Ethan Blackwood, coming to the rescue,” he sneered, his gaze flicking to me, sending a chill through my body.

Ethan straightened, his posture guarded. “It’s over, Dominic. Your games, your threats—they end tonight.”

Dominic chuckled, his smirk widening. “Oh, it’s hardly over, Blackwood. In fact, it’s only just beginning.”

The air thickened with tension, and I could feel the danger radiating from Dominic like a physical force. His smile faded, replaced by a menacing gleam as he looked at me. 

“And you,” he sneered, stepping closer. “Lila Stone. Did you really think you’d escape the fate that’s bound you to me?”

I took a shaky breath, but Ethan stepped forward, placing himself between us. “You touch her, and I’ll rip you apart,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Dominic’s eyes flashed, and for a moment, I thought I saw something almost… feral. “You think you can stop me, Blackwood?” His voice dropped, taunting. “I’ve been planning this for years. This town, this power—I’ll take what I want, and none of you can stand in my way.”

My mind reeled, processing his words. “What are you talking about?” I demanded, my voice steadier than I felt.

He gave a slow, chilling smile. “You, dear Lila, hold the key to power. More power than your pathetic pack could ever dream of.”

I felt my skin prickle with unease, his words sinking in like a threat. Before I could respond, he lunged, faster than I could react. Ethan intercepted him, and the two clashed in a fierce, brutal fight, their movements a deadly dance of snarls and blows.

But Dominic was stronger than he appeared, his strikes landing with brutal force. Ethan staggered, his jaw clenched, blood trickling from a cut on his lip as he fought to keep Dominic at bay. 

I took the chance to turn back to Nathan, finally loosening the knots around his wrists. “Nathan, come on, we have to get out of here!”

He groaned, his body weak from exhaustion and injuries. “I can… barely stand…”

“Just hold on,” I urged, throwing his arm over my shoulders as I pulled him up.

Ethan glanced back, his voice tight. “Get him out of here, Lila!”

I nodded, my heart pounding as I dragged Nathan toward the door, feeling every second stretch as Dominic’s menacing laughter echoed behind us. 

But then, just as I reached the doorway, something slammed into me, knocking both Nathan and me to the ground. I looked up, dazed, to see one of Dominic’s men standing over us, his eyes gleaming with predatory intent.

My hand scrambled for something, anything, to defend us. My fingers brushed against a jagged rock, and with a burst of desperation, I swung it, catching him across the temple. He staggered back, giving me enough time to pull Nathan to his feet once more.

“Go!” I urged him, pushing him toward the path.

He stumbled but managed to keep his footing, and I turned back, my heart lurching as I caught sight of Ethan grappling with Dominic, locked in a brutal struggle. Dominic’s eyes gleamed with a twisted satisfaction, his movements quicker and sharper than I’d seen in any fight before.

Ethan caught my gaze, his expression fierce. “Run, Lila. Get Nathan to safety!”

I hesitated, torn between staying and helping him, but the urgency in his eyes left me no choice. I gave him a final nod, a silent promise, before turning and following Nathan into the dark forest, the sounds of their battle fading behind me.

---

We ran until the cabin was nothing but a distant shadow, and my lungs burned from the effort. Nathan’s pace slowed, and he stumbled to a stop, leaning against a tree for support.

“Ethan…” he murmured, guilt and worry thick in his voice. 

I looked back, my heart twisting with fear. “He’ll make it out,” I whispered, trying to convince myself as much as him. “He has to.”

Nathan nodded weakly, his gaze unfocused. “I just… I didn’t want any of you involved. I thought I could handle it alone…”

I placed a hand on his shoulder, offering what comfort I could. “You did what you could, Nathan. And now we know more about Dominic’s plans. We’ll use it to fight back.”

He nodded slowly, but the weight of guilt still lingered in his eyes. “He’s more dangerous than we thought, Lila. You and Ethan… need to be careful.”

I swallowed, glancing back toward the cabin, where the faint sounds of the struggle had all but disappeared into the quiet night. 

“We will,” I whispered, hoping my words held some truth. But as we made our way back to safety, one thought haunted me, lingering like a shadow:

*What if we were already too late?*