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

retort but I thought

managed another tense , uncomfortable smile

back inside , ” I said taking a step towards

… intervening and

to go , his voice

Those men are panther shifters , ” he said his

come back ; cats can

So ,

and

you not to wander around alone again

froze my hand on

did he

than he was letting on ? My brow furrowed slightly as I processed what he was

shifters ? Panthers

– creatures and

they had access to almost

doing

cut into

Is it common to see shifters in this part

shaking my

No ,” I

is my first

as if I had confirmed something for him

careful , Miss

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

, he

4/10

<

Shadows and whispers …

the building

a moment , watching him go , my skin prickling

rubbed my arms , trying to shake

were screaming that something wasn’t right , but I

breath , I turned and went back inside

the café .

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

, and they immediately landed

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

ease as if he hadn’t

when I

a slice of

eyes lingered on Xander for a moment

him and his father felt … off

Mr Dupree had talked about those shifters as if he

like

he a werewolf or any

– creature ?

other

entered the café

5/10

Shadows and whispers …

Xander’s table .

in Xander’s

wrong in the interaction but

and a strange aura that commanded the respect he seemed to carry, the way he bowed his head as he spoke to Xander

almost as if

Mr Dupree was the servant and

the master .

thought crossed my mind , Xander suddenly lifted his eyes

he raised

mile spread across

at me in a friendly

moment our eyes locked ,

in full force , sending a shiver down

weak smile, feeling my heart beat a little

, I looked away, hoping to avoid

get back to work and ignore the growing sense of dread curling in my

fully retreat, the front door of the

and whispers …

newcomers entered two women and a man

me …

and Mr Dupree’s table that was when

were all

they could associate with those two and not be wolves

soured instantly and my mind

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