Rowan's knowledge of animal physiology was too shallow; added to that, Owen's state of impending clinical death was truly very difficult for him to believe completely.
An Alpha never weakened themselves to this extent when differentiating; why would a creature become powerful in such a contrary way, having to undergo a phase of near-death to become stronger?
Owen tried to gasp out some comfort to Rowan for a while longer, but his falling-apart body could not withstand the drowsiness crashing down; eyelids heavy as if wearing lead, he dropped his head onto Rowan's shoulder and fell asleep.
This time, Rowan could not shake him awake anymore; he had sunk into a deep coma. If not for the fact that he could still feel the weak but steady breath exhaling against his neck and the slow heartbeat pressing against his chest, Rowan would have truly gone mad and stormed into the Nomadic Wolf tribe.
