Briar tries to apologize to Rufus but is rejected harshly, recalling that Damian caused her injury. Rufus threatens to kill Damian if Briar allows it, but she angrily refuses and tells Rufus to leave. It’s revealed that Rufus is not originally Briar’s mate, and her obsession with Damian has caused her to hurt others. Briar’s strained relationships deepen when she rejects Rufus’s attempts to reconcile and returns a gift from Damian after refusing his help despite freezing conditions. As Briar begins to realize the damage caused by her past actions, she decides to check on her other mates, finding Hugo near collapse from exposure, raising new urgent concerns.