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

cheeks burned at the

retort but

I managed another tense , uncomfortable smile

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

… intervening and

”

།

go , his

Those men are panther shifters , ” he said his tone as cold

back ;

So ,

Shadows and whispers …

not to wander around

”

on the door

he know

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

Panthers are messengers

were – creatures and

they had access to almost any realm

doing here

Dupree’s voice cut into my thhts

shifters in

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

I

This is my first time running into any

”

had confirmed something for

be careful

be a dangerous place for a young woman … especially one with your unique

ask him what he meant by that , he

4/10

<

and

the

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

, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling

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

deep breath , I turned and went back inside

the café .

of the place did little to soothe my

the room , and they immediately landed on

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

ease as if he hadn’t a care in

when I was having those mysterious calls

a slice of

eyes lingered on Xander for a moment

him and his father felt …

had talked about those shifters as if he

didn’t treat me like I was human

werewolf

– creature ?

other

as he entered the café and

5/10

Shadows and

Xander’s table .

in Xander’s ears

nothing wrong in the interaction but to me ,

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

almost as

, Mr Dupree was

the master .

crossed my mind , Xander suddenly lifted his eyes and

face and he raised his

mile spread across

at me in a friendly manner

eyes locked , that

, sending a shiver down

as I managed a weak smile, feeling my heart beat a little too fast as I awkwardly waved

away, hoping to avoid

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

fully retreat, the front door of

and whispers …

—

two women and a

…

moved immediately to Xander and Mr Dupree’s table that was when everything dawned

all

was no way they could associate with

mood soured instantly and my mind