After surviving the Voice Trial, Meryn attends a raucous celebration in the common lounge where all four packs are drinking and socializing. Eight Rawbonds died in the trial, and though Meryn finds the partying after so much death unsettling, the emberwine helps her relax. She sits with Izabel, Venna, Tomison, and Kristof, observing the festivities. The group notices Stark watching from a shadowed corner, rebuffing every woman who approaches him. When they tease Meryn about finding him attractive, she deflects. Loosened by the wine, Meryn accidentally reveals to Izabel and Venna that the man who broke her heart is somewhere in the castle, immediately regretting the slip.

When Meryn goes to refill her glass, Stark corners her at the serving table and delivers a veiled threat, warning her about "accidents" and referencing her "miraculous survival." Meryn fires back with a thinly veiled reference to the Daemos Rawbond she killed, then leaves the party shaken. The next morning, brutally hungover, Meryn tries to deflect Izabel's curiosity about her mystery heartbreaker, insisting she was just drunk. She vomits out a hallway window and is immediately summoned to Beta Egith's office.

Egith delivers a harsh assessment of Meryn's Voice Trial performance. Despite finishing third, Egith tells Meryn that her lack of genuine communication with Anassa was painfully obvious—they looked like reluctant enemies cooperating rather than a true Bonded pair. Egith reveals that her own father was a commoner, then confronts Meryn about treating herself as an outsider and refusing to accept her new life. She warns that Meryn must fully accept Anassa and the bond or she will die in the next challenge. Izabel later echoes this advice, urging Meryn to connect more with the pack.

During a History of War lecture, Gamma Elinor teaches the Rawbonds about the Siphons—blood-magic-wielding immortals who drain humans for life force and power. Meryn learns that eliminating the Siphons requires a full invasion of Astreona, and she realizes that crossing into Siphon territory is her only hope of finding Saela. This crystallizes her understanding that she needs Anassa's cooperation to survive.

At dusk, Meryn climbs to the highest wolf terrace carrying dried mountain sage as a peace offering. She finds Anassa hiding in the shadows. Sitting cross-legged at a respectful distance, Meryn places the sage down and gently reaches through the bond without pressing. Anassa's iron wall cracks open slightly, transmitting a tangle of interest, disdain, and ancient wisdom. As the direwolf stalks toward Meryn, a clear pulse of feeling comes through: Anassa questions why Meryn, who rejected her repeatedly, now wants to be friends.