CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

Alpha Duncan stood outside Hailey's door, plate in hand. He cautiously knocked, but got no answer.

He hesitated for a bit before turning the handle and stepping inside.

Leaping from her bed, Hailey quickly dabbed at her eyes. But it was too late - Duncan had already seen her tear-stained face. An awkward silence filled the room.

Duncan broke the silence by lifting the plate in his hands. “My mother was worried, so she asked me to bring this over." He held out the plate, offering it to Hailey.

After a brief moment of pause, Hailey reached out and collected the plate from him. She said, "Thank you," without looking him in the eyes with her tone hardly louder than a whisper.

Placing the plate down, he turned to walk away but halted midway through the room and turned around, "You know I am not a bad person, right?" He asked softly

Taken aback by his remark, Hailey glanced up at him. She made a small face, unsure of how to respond.

Duncan took a deep breath. "I think you might believe