After collapsing, Misery experiences overwhelming pain and repeatedly drifts in and out of consciousness. She hears Lowe giving frantic orders until Dr. Averill, the Collateral physician who has known Misery for years, arrives and gives her a painkiller. Dr. Averill explains that poison is working through Misery's system and that her body must now fight it by entering a Vampyre healing trance.

Before Misery slips under again, Dr. Averill tells Lowe that Misery may remain still for hours or even days and will need a great deal of fresh blood after waking. He also warns that Misery's father, Councilman Lark, may view the poisoning as an act of aggression or even a declaration of war against the Vampyres. The medical crisis therefore becomes both a personal emergency and a political threat.

While Misery remains half-aware, she overhears the pack arguing about what the attack means. Mick insists Emery is responsible, but Lowe refuses to make assumptions without proof. Because no one knows whether Ana or Misery was the intended victim, Juno and Cal push to protect Ana, and Lowe decides to move Ana to a safe undisclosed location while he continues watching over Misery.

Misery wakes suddenly in the middle of the night, weak and disoriented but physically healed. When she steps into the hallway, she discovers that a giant white wolf has been sleeping outside her door as a guard, and she realizes it is Lowe in his shifted form. Lowe silently herds Misery back into her room, fetches bedding for the closet space where she likes to sleep, accepts her touch, and curls up beside her. Misery falls asleep next to him feeling safer than ever, which marks a new level of trust and intimacy between them.