At Fort Mercer Military Hospital, Valerio is left with severe old wounds from the North Ridge evacuation, his pheromones out of control, and no one dares approach him. Beta doctor Bjornar crosses the warning line alone to stitch his wounds, becoming the only person in the hospital who can withstand his pheromones. Through repeated treatments, the two grow closer, and Bjornar's receptor activity is quietly activated by prolonged exposure. Meanwhile, traces of an injected substance are found in Valerio's old wound, and the truth of the North Ridge evacuation three years ago surfaces—Vaughn sold out the evacuation point, and the enemy's real target has always been Valerio. When the enemy discovers Bjornar can stabilize Valerio, they mark him as the new prey. Bjornar refuses to step back, and Valerio cannot let go. By the end of treatment, Valerio's pheromones return to normal, but Bjornar's receptors stay permanently at 0.53, responding only to Valerio's frequency.
