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 the condescending

but I thought better

another tense ,

should probably head back inside , ”

… intervening and saving me

”

།

I moved to go , his voice stopped

” he said

back ; cats can be quite vengeful

So ,

and

not to wander around

”

my hand on the

he

did it sound like he knew more than he was letting

? Panthers are messengers

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

access to almost

doing here ?

cut into my thhts

to see shifters in this

, shaking

I said

first time running

”

as if I had confirmed

Well , be careful ,

a dangerous place for a young woman …

that , he turned and walked

4/10

<

and whispers …

of the

for a moment , watching him go , my skin

to shake off the unsettling

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

deep breath , I turned and went back inside

the café .

of the place did little to soothe my

room , and

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

he

have come in when I was having those mysterious calls

on a slice

lingered on Xander for a

his

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

me like I was human

he a werewolf

creature

other

watched as he entered the café and made

5/10

Shadows and whispers

Xander’s table .

Xander’s ears

seen nothing wrong in the interaction but to me , it

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 and Xander

the master .

my mind , Xander suddenly lifted his eyes and our gaze

raised his hand

mile spread across

in a friendly manner

eyes locked

force ,

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

looked away, hoping to avoid

and ignore the growing sense of dread curling in

could fully retreat, the front

Shadows and

—

two women and

scents hit me … they were werewolves

and Mr Dupree’s table

all

could associate with those two and not

and my mind whirled with questions