Held in Irene’s remote hideout and growing sicker as her Heat approaches, Serena is watched by Nele, a young Favored woman who seems more indoctrinated than cruel. Through their conversation, Serena learns how the remaining Favored interpret the Harrowing, the Northwest, and Serena herself: Nele believes Serena proves Constantine’s claims, insists Humans might be turned into Weres, and says about fifty Favored still survive in scattered hideouts. Nele also admits Irene expects Serena to bring the group visibility, confirming Serena’s fear that she is being used as both symbol and bait.

When Nele says Serena must prepare for her Heat with ceremonial markings, Serena resists both the ritual and the name Eva. Serena insists on being called Serena, recognizing that the name she built her life around matters more to her than the one tied to her stolen childhood. Distrusting the situation but trying to avoid provoking Irene further, Serena lets Nele paint her skin with green ritual dye.

Four hours later, Serena is feverish, cramping, and thinking increasingly about Koen as her body pushes deeper into Heat. Downstairs she finds more Favored in the house, including male Weres who openly eye her while Irene implies Serena will soon have to choose among them. Irene finally gives Serena Fiona’s letter and the photos. In the letter, Fiona writes to Irene from hiding after the Harrowing, describes Constantine’s paranoia and continued self-importance, and confesses that young Serena was traumatized, withdrawn, and possibly better off away from both Fiona and Constantine. Fiona wonders whether Serena should be sent to Irene or surrendered to the new Northwest Alpha under his offer of mercy.

Serena finishes the letter just as Koen arrives. Irene had sent the location that morning, and Koen comes alone, bound, bloodied, and escorted by Jess and two other Favored, yet he remains openly defiant and immediately focuses on Serena’s distress. After he strikes back at one captor and calls Serena his mate, Irene introduces herself to him as Constantine’s sister. That revelation forces Serena to confront what her father did to Koen’s family and pack, and her guilt surges. Irene then lands the chapter’s final blow: Fiona died less than a day after writing the letter, and Irene asks Koen how long he has known that he killed Serena’s mother.