The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger by Ejiofor Dorcas

35 Shadows and whispers…

35 Shadows and whispers…

Lyla

At that moment… I would have gladly chosen the shifters but they seemed to shrink back at the sight of Mr Dupree, their cocky expressions fading into apprehension.

The alley fell into an eerie silence as Mr Dupree’s imposing figure loomed at the entrance. My eyes darted between him and the shifters, my body growing tense with surprise and wariness.

First of all, what was he doing e? Second, why were the shifters looking scared? He was a human, if anything he should be the one backing away from them. Why did it seem they were shrinking under his gaze, looking at him sheepishly?

“Why is no one answering my question?” Mr Dupree chuckled – even that sounded sinister. “Is there a problem here?”

The leader of the shifters, the one that had tried to flirt with me in the café shook his head. “None, we were just leaving,” he muttered.

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35 Shadows and whispers…

I watched as they turned and hurried away. As they disappeared from my line of vision, I found myself alone with Mr D. The relief I felt at the shifter’s departure was quickly overshadowed by a new kind of unease. I forced a nonchalant smile as I stepped back, trying to suppress the urge to run.

Swallowing hard, I murmured turning to Mr Dupree whose gaze was on me now. “They’re just lowlifes, I could have handled them.”

His lips curled into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “It didn’t look that way to me, Miss Lyla. Are you alright though? Did they try to attack you?” he asked, as his gaze flickered all over my body.

I felt exposed.

“No!” I shook my head eager to change the subject, I blurted out. “What are you doing here?” I winced internally at how accusatory it sounded.

If he was offended by my question he didn’t show it, instead, his expression softened, though it did little to ease my nerves. “I live in the neighbourhood,” he replied casually. “Xander and I were just taking an evening stroll. We were in the coffee shop a while ago

19:27

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<

35 Shadows and whispers…

when I overheard those men talking about teaching someone a lesson.” His eyes bore into mine. “When I saw you heading towards the back door and those men leaving shortly after, I put two and two together.”

I shifted uncomfortably under his intense gaze. There was something about the way he looked at me as if he could see right through me. “I didn’t realize I was followed. Thank you for helping me,” I said awkwardly, my fingers twitching as I resisted the urge to light another cigarette.

“You shouldn’t be in dark alleys at this hour,” he continued, his eyes straying to the cigarette pack peeking out of my pocket. “And sn woman. You should know better.”

g? You’re a

My cheeks burned at the condescending remark. I opened my mouth to retort but I thought better of it. Instead, I managed another tense, uncomfortable smile. “Yeah… I should probably head back inside,” I said taking a step towards the café’s back door. “Thank you for…intervening and saving me.”

།

As I moved to go, his voice stopped me. “Those men are panther shifters,” he said his tone as cold as ever. “They might come back; cats can be quite vengeful. So,

and

advise you not to

hand on the door

he knew more than he was letting on? My brow furrowed slightly as I processed what

stray were–creatures and since they could mask

access to almost any realm. What were

it common to

to face him, shaking my head, my unease growing. “No,” I said

as if I had confirmed something for him. “Well, be careful, Miss Lyla. The world can be a dangerous place

by that, he turned and walked away, disappearing around

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<

and

moment, watching him go, my

screaming that something wasn’t right, but I

the café.

and they immediately landed on Xander. He was sitting at one of the tables, casually scring through his phone while sipping coffee and plain cake. He looked completely at ease as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

a

and his father felt… off. Earlier, Mr Dupree had talked about those shifters as if he

were–creature?

other

the café and made his

5/10

and whispers…

before taking the seat opposite him. A casual observer might have seen nothing wrong in the interaction but to me, it felt strange.

the way he bowed his head as he spoke to Xander struck me as odd. It was almost as if,

Dupree was the servant and

the master.

crossed my mind, Xander suddenly lifted his eyes

raised his

mile spread across

in a friendly manner. The moment

of apprehension returned in full force, sending a shiver

avoid further interaction. I needed to focus, get

and

—

entered two women and a

hit me… they

Xander and Mr Dupree’s table that was when everything dawned on me. They were all werewolves. There was no way they could associate with those two

my pack? Were they here to

let me go and it couldn’t possibly be my ex–mate. Nathan! My mind wandered to my friend as I slipped 、 out my

any messages.

There was none.

the newcomers?” I asked Sarah who didn’t

she flashed me a smile and took the menus to

their table.

dad…, now that I thought about it, I couldn’t detect any scent from them

their orders

ΤΑΤΟ