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

at

retort but I thought better of it

another

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

… intervening

moved to go , his voice stopped

” he said his tone as

; cats

So ,

Shadows and whispers …

you not to

froze my hand on the door handle

he

did it sound like he knew more than he was letting on ? My brow furrowed slightly as

? Panthers

the mythical world , they’re always used to track stray were – creatures and since they could mask their scent naturally and take up

access to

they doing here ?

Dupree’s voice cut into

it common to see shifters in

him , shaking my head , my

I

is my first time running into any

if I had confirmed something

careful

dangerous place for a young woman

him what he meant by that , he turned and walked

4/10

<

Shadows and whispers …

the

for a moment , watching him go , my skin prickling

arms , trying to shake off the

instincts were screaming that something wasn’t right , but I couldn’t quite

a deep breath , I turned and

the café .

, the familiar warmth of the place

, and they immediately landed

of the tables , casually scring through his phone while sipping coffee and plain

if he hadn’t a care in

when I was having those

a slice of

on Xander

him and his father felt … off

about those shifters as if he knew I would understand

didn’t treat me like I was human

a werewolf

– creature ?

other

café and made

5/10

Shadows and whispers …

Xander’s table .

in Xander’s ears before

nothing wrong in the interaction but to me , it

that commanded the respect he seemed to carry, the way he bowed his head as he spoke to

almost as if , despite

Dupree was the

the master .

Xander suddenly lifted

and he raised his

mile spread across

in a friendly manner

our eyes locked

apprehension returned in full force , sending a shiver down my spine

feeling my heart beat a little

hoping to avoid

needed to focus , get back to work and ignore the growing sense of dread curling

fully retreat, the front

and whispers …

women and a man

me … they were werewolves

Xander and Mr Dupree’s table that was

all

no way they could associate with those two and not

soured instantly and my mind whirled with questions

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