As Misery recovers from the poison, she drifts through a memory of leaving the Collateral residence with Serena years earlier. They met a young new Collateral, and Serena immediately wanted to save him, furious that the system kept taking children. Awake in the present, Misery realizes she finally understands that anger because she now has people she wants to protect, especially Ana and Lowe.

Still weak, Misery goes downstairs and interrupts a meeting of Lowe’s seconds. After Lowe sends them away, Misery learns she was unconscious for five days and that her poisoning nearly triggered open conflict with the Vampyres. Dr. Averill convinced the council that the poison was also toxic to Weres and was likely not meant specifically for Misery; because Ana regularly eats the peanut butter involved, Lowe suspects Ana may have been the real target. Ana has been hidden with Koen, and although Emery Messner’s Loyal network remains the main suspect, Lowe has no proof tying Emery to this attack.

Lowe then tells Misery he wants to send her somewhere safer, even away from him if necessary, because he believes he failed to protect her. Misery refuses, insisting they are a team and should solve the threat together instead of separating. Lowe admits he changed her sheets himself, struggled to let anyone else touch her while she was sick, and no longer knows whom to trust; Misery answers by promising that he can trust her.

Because Misery is exhausted and filthy after her illness, Lowe carries her to her bathroom and bathes her. The care quickly turns intimate: he washes her, praises her beauty, and responds when she asks for more. In the bath, he touches her until she climaxes, admits he desired her from the night they met, and they share their first kiss. He then carries her to her closet nest, where his desire intensifies and he goes down on her, bringing her to another powerful climax while barely restraining himself from taking things further.

The moment is interrupted by a call from Owen. He orders Misery to return home, notices at once that she and Lowe are involved, and then reveals important news: Serena’s apartment was broken into three days earlier, the cameras were tampered with, and he has more information he will only share in person. Lowe agrees to arrange a meeting. Called away by pack business, Lowe leaves reluctantly, telling Misery to be good and kissing her forehead before he goes.