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

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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 .

”

? You’re

burned at the condescending remark

retort but I thought better

another

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

Thank you for …

”

།

to go ,

panther shifters , ” he said his tone as cold

come back ;

So ,

Shadows and whispers …

not to wander around alone

”

froze my hand on

he

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

shifters ? Panthers are

track stray were – creatures and since they

, they had access

were they doing here ?

Dupree’s voice cut into my thhts

Is it common to see shifters in this

back to face him , shaking my head ,

No ,” I said

first time running into any

”

I had confirmed something for

be careful , Miss Lyla

a young woman …

ask him what he meant by that , he turned and walked away , disappearing

4/10

<

and whispers …

of the building

watching him go , my skin prickling

trying to

, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it

, I turned

the café .

the place did little to soothe my frayed

the room , and they

sitting at one of the tables , casually scring through his phone while sipping coffee and plain cake

if he hadn’t a care in the

have come in when I was having those mysterious

on a slice of

lingered on Xander for a

and his

shifters as if he knew I

didn’t treat me like I was human

a werewolf or

creature

other

entered the café and made his

5/10

Shadows and whispers …

Xander’s table .

, whispering something in Xander’s ears before taking the

seen nothing wrong in the interaction but

to carry, the way he bowed his head as he spoke

was almost as if , despite

Dupree was the

the master .

crossed my mind , Xander suddenly lifted his eyes and our gaze

raised his

mile spread across

in

eyes locked

full force , sending

throat as I managed a weak smile, feeling my heart beat a

I looked away, hoping to avoid further interaction

and ignore the growing sense of dread curling

front

and

—

newcomers entered two women and a man

scents hit me … they were

Mr Dupree’s table that was when everything

all werewolves

way they could associate with

instantly and my mind whirled with