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

cheeks burned at the condescending remark

opened my mouth to retort but I

another tense , uncomfortable smile

I should probably head back inside , ” I

… intervening

”

།

moved to go

” he said his tone as cold as

; cats can be

So ,

Shadows and whispers

not to wander

”

my hand on the

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

? Panthers are

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

, they had access

doing here

voice cut into

shifters in this part of

, shaking

,” I said slowly

first time running into

”

as if I had confirmed

Well , be careful , Miss Lyla

world can be a dangerous place for a young woman … especially

, he turned

4/10

<

Shadows and whispers …

of the building

watching him go , my skin prickling

, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling

screaming that something wasn’t right , but I couldn’t

, I turned and

the café .

the familiar warmth of the place did little to soothe my frayed

room , and they immediately landed on Xander

sitting at one of the tables , casually scring through his phone while sipping

if he hadn’t a care in the world

must have come in when I was having those

a slice of

on Xander for a

him and his father

had talked about those shifters as if he knew I would understand

like I was

he a werewolf or

– creature

other

he entered the café and made his

5/10

Shadows and whispers

Xander’s table .

, whispering something in Xander’s ears before taking the seat opposite him

might have seen nothing wrong in the interaction but to me , it felt

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

almost as if ,

, Mr Dupree was the servant

the master .

mind , Xander suddenly lifted his eyes

he raised

mile spread across

in a

eyes locked , that

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

smile, feeling my heart beat a little too fast

, I looked away, hoping to avoid further interaction

to work and ignore the growing sense of dread

retreat, the front door of

Shadows and whispers …

—

women and a man

hit me … they were

Dupree’s table that was

were all

could associate with

and my mind whirled with questions