The Alpha’s Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger

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 .

1410

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

2/10

<

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 .

”

You’re

cheeks burned at the

mouth to retort but I thought better of

, I managed another

, ” I said taking a step

Thank you for …

”

།

to go , his voice

he said his tone as cold as

might come back ; cats

So ,

Shadows and whispers …

not to

”

my hand on

did he know

? And why did it sound like he knew more than he was letting on ? My brow furrowed slightly as I processed what he was

shifters ? Panthers are messengers

to track stray were – creatures and since

had access to almost any realm

they doing

cut

it common to see shifters in this part of tow

him , shaking

No ,” I

This is my first time running

”

I had confirmed something for him

careful ,

a dangerous place for a young woman … especially

, he turned and

4/10

<

Shadows and

the building

go , my skin prickling in a way it hadn’t done in a long time

to shake off the unsettling

wasn’t right , but I couldn’t quite put

I

the café .

the place did little to soothe my frayed

and they immediately landed

one of the tables , casually scring through

completely at ease as if he hadn’t a care

have come in when I was having

on a

lingered on Xander for

his father felt … off

Mr Dupree had talked about those shifters as if

treat me like I was human

a werewolf or any

creature ?

other

as he entered the café and made his way to

5/10

and

Xander’s table .

whispering something in Xander’s ears before taking the seat

nothing wrong in the interaction but to me ,

presence and a strange aura that commanded the respect he seemed to carry, the way he bowed his head as

as

, Mr Dupree was

the master .

Xander suddenly lifted his eyes and our gaze met

face and he raised his

mile spread across

in a friendly manner

eyes

, sending a shiver

feeling my heart beat a

looked away, hoping to avoid

and ignore the growing sense of dread curling

front door of the café

and

—

entered two women and a

me … they

Dupree’s table that was when

all werewolves

with those two and not

instantly and my mind whirled with questions