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 .

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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

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 a

at

but I thought

another tense , uncomfortable smile

should probably head back inside , ” I said taking a step towards the café’s back door

Thank you for …

”

།

to go

, ” he said his tone as cold as

come back ; cats can be

So ,

and

not to wander around alone again

”

froze my hand on the door handle

did he

he was letting on ? My brow

? Panthers

track stray were – creatures and since they could mask their scent naturally and take up

had access to almost any realm

they doing here ?

Dupree’s voice cut

to see shifters in

back to face him , shaking my head , my unease growing

I

first time running

”

as if I had confirmed something for him

, be careful , Miss

be a dangerous place for a young woman …

he meant by that , he turned

4/10

<

and

the building

for a moment , watching him go , my skin prickling in a way it hadn’t

rubbed my arms , trying to shake off the unsettling feeling

that something wasn’t right , but

, I turned

the café .

place

room , and they immediately

, casually scring through

if he hadn’t a care in the

when I was having those mysterious calls

a slice

eyes lingered on Xander for a moment

about him and his father felt …

talked about those shifters as if he knew I

treat me like I

werewolf or

creature ?

other

entered the café and made his way to

5/10

and whispers

Xander’s table .

, whispering something in Xander’s ears before taking

observer might have seen nothing wrong in the interaction but to me

Mr Dupree’s imposing presence and a strange aura that commanded the respect he seemed to carry, the way he bowed his head as he spoke to Xander struck me as odd

was almost as if ,

was the

the master .

this thought crossed my mind , Xander suddenly lifted his eyes

and he raised his hand

mile spread across

in a

moment our eyes

, sending a shiver down

managed a weak smile, feeling my heart

I looked away, hoping to avoid further

ignore

could fully retreat, the front door of the café swung

Shadows and whispers …

—

women and a

… they

Dupree’s table that was when everything dawned on me

all

associate with those two and not be wolves

my mind whirled