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 .

1410

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 the condescending

mouth to retort but I thought better of it

I managed another tense ,

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

for …

I moved to go , his voice

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

come back ; cats can be quite

So ,

Shadows and whispers

advise you not to

my hand on the door

he know

he knew more than he was letting on ? My brow furrowed slightly as

Panthers are messengers

– creatures and since they could mask their scent naturally and take up any

had access to almost

doing here ?

cut into

shifters

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

I said slowly

is my first time

as if I had confirmed something

, be careful , Miss Lyla

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

by that , he turned and

4/10

<

Shadows and

of the building

, watching him go , my skin prickling in a

arms , trying to shake off

but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it

I turned and went back

the café .

familiar warmth of the place did little to soothe my

scanned the room , and they immediately landed on Xander

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

as if he hadn’t a care in the world

must have come in when I was having

on a

Xander for

his

had talked about those shifters as if he knew

me like

werewolf or any

– creature

other

entered the café and made his way

5/10

and whispers …

Xander’s table .

something in Xander’s ears before taking the

might have seen nothing wrong in the interaction but to me

he seemed to carry, the way he bowed his

was almost as if , despite

, Mr Dupree was the

the master .

suddenly

and he raised

mile spread across

me in a friendly manner

moment our eyes

force , sending

feeling my heart

, I looked away, hoping to avoid further

, get back to work and ignore the growing sense of

the front door of the café swung open again

Shadows and whispers

newcomers entered two women and a man

hit me … they were

and Mr Dupree’s table

all

associate with those two

my

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255