Chapter 28: Fires of War, Flames of Desire
The triumph of capturing Silas curdled into ash in their mouths. On the command post screens, the Nightclaw war machine advanced—a relentless tide of armored vehicles and disciplined warriors, their cold, organized approach a stark contrast to the chaotic fervor of the Crimson Paw defense. Korvath hadn't waited for the 48 hours. He had used their assault as the perfect opportunity to crush a weakened Silverfang.
Kael's face was a granite mask, but Lyra saw the flicker of despair in his eyes before he shuttered it. They were overextended, their forces split, their Alpha facing an impossible choice: abandon the hard-won victory over Silas to face the new threat, or stand and be annihilated.
"Ronan," Kael's voice was a whip-crack over the comms, all business, the brief moment of shared vulnerability gone. "Disengage. Fall back to the secondary line. Valen, hold your position. If Silas tries to escape, kill him."
