Distant.

Ollen didn't come to the dining room for lunch. I asked around for him again and was told that he was probably out with the patrols still.

I didn't have an appetite, so I went to my room, sat by the window, and waited to see if Ollen would return.

I had a clear view of the woods and partial view of the front door.

I threw my gaze around, hoping I would catch sight of his tall figure somewhere.

I was busy looking around when Mavus spoke to me through the mind link.

"Did you run into the Alpha yet?" She asked.

"Not yet." I replied.

"Well, he just came back and went straight to his office. I'm going to take him lunch there for him." She commented.

"Thank you, Mavus." I said, wanting to run to the kitchen to hug her for remembering to ask me.

I cut the link and rushed out of my room, my target being Ollen's office.

I knocked on the door the second I arrived, but there was no reply.

"Ollen?" I called out, not wanting to badge into his room without getting invited in first.

Still, there was no reply.

I did what I did earlier and pressed my right ear against the surface of the door. It was not as quiet as it was this morning. I might be able to hear his breath, but I could hear his heartbeat. I knew for a fact that he was in there.

"Ollen?" I called out again and decided that if he was not going to invit me in still, I was going to walk in myself.

Ollen was sitting behind his desk, doing absolutely nothing. He seemed like he was lost in his thoughts. It explained why he didn't hear me knocking on the door or calling out for him.

I closed the door behind me and walked closer to his desk.

"Ollen?" I called out again, and this time, he reacted.

His head lifted towards me, his cloudy eyes meeting my abdomen.

"Yes?" He called back, and something made me feel unease.

Ollen didn't seem like himself. He seemed reserved and a bit distant.

Worry instantly filled my entire body.

"Is everything okay?" I softly asked, watching him carefully to figure out what was wrong.

"Everything is fine." He replied.

Something in his voice reminded me of the cold in the pack that made everyone shiver.

"Are you sure?" I asked, and he simply nodded his head.

No, something was definitely wrong, but I had to let it go. I had to change the subject to push that insecure feeling out of my body.

"I looked foe you all morning. Where have you been?" I asked.

"I was out." He replied, and that was it.

I bit my lower lip, the detachment in his voice scaring me.

"Is that all?" He asked.

Before he could tell me to leave, I cleared my throat to push the lump down and carried on with the main reason why I came here.

"No, actually. I wanted to tell you about something." I started. "My sister called..."

"Your younger sister?" Ollen suddenly asked, cutting me off.

His question confused me.

Why did it matter?

He already knew my father only had two daughters. And everyone, including him, knew that the letter was sent to the older sister and not the younger. Which means they would think I'm the older sister.

So why did he have to confirm that Jenny is my younger sister?

What was he getting on about?

I didn't give him an answer to his question, knowing he would smell the lie on me.

I couldn't trust the bracelet around my wrist too much. Even if it meant it would keep my true status in the family a secret, even if it means it might work as a cover for the lie that I was the older sister.

I couldn't risk being caught in a lie.

I couldn't risk losing the bond I've created with Ollen over it.

"My sister called to tell me that our father was thinking of sending her off to mate with another Alpha. She said the man is Alpha Brian, and the people of the Sea and Moons pack have been staying there for a few says as well. I think... Alpha Brain is going to try to do something through my previous pack."

I finished, and Ollen remained silent.

"Ollen?"

"Yes?"

"Did you listen to what I just told you?" I asked.

"I did."

To say that I was confused would be an understatement. The tension in the room made me hold my breath for a few seconds. It felt like I was drowning and didn't know how to swim out of the situation.

"Okay..." I said, not knowing what else to say to him. "I just wanted to give you a head up in case..."

It was obvious that Ollen did not walk to talk to me at the moment. Maybe he wanted to be alone for a while. Maybe the stress was getting to him.

I thought about turning around to leave, but decided to try one more thing I thought would lighten up his moon.

"Have you heard about the garden?" I asked. "The lettuces are growing well, and the rest are peeking out too. The land is growing food."

"I heard." He replied.

The frown that covered my face made my eyebrows feel heavy.

"Is there anything you want to tell me, Ollen?" I asked.

"No." He swiftly replied. "But is there anything YOU want to tell me?"

"No. Nothing else, I guess." I said.

"Okay, then. I'd like to be alone." He commented, leaning back into his seat and closing his eyes.

I stood there for a few seconds, unable to process what was happening.

That was not the man who walked me to my room the previous night. It couldn't be.

I turned around and walked away, trying to convince myself that all he needed was time, that later on, he would return to the Ollen I have come to know and enjoy spending time with for over a month.