Lowe and Misery stop by Misery’s Human apartment. Lowe is overwhelmed by how much it smells like her. Misery asks why Gabi was chosen to be the Collateral, and Lowe says she offered. Misery asks what her own major was in college and Lowe remembers. Misery confirms with Lowe that Davenport was wrong when he told her Gabi was Lowe’s mate. Misery kisses Lowe. She says she wants to have sex and isn’t afraid. She asks what it’s called when his penis expands and he says it’s a knot. They have sex, but he pulls out before he knots. Lowe reveals that Weres knot only with certain people. She asks if she’s his mate, saying she feels the same way about him. He shuts down and tells her she’s misinterpreted how he feels and that they should probably be apart from now on. He will have someone pick her up.

Misery is devastated. Eventually Mick picks her up, and instead of taking her home, he injects her with something. As she passes out, he says he’s sorry.

Misery recognizes Serena’s method of shaking her awake before she fully regains consciousness. She is in a room with Serena, who has been there over three months, though Serena doesn’t know where “there” is.