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 .

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

mouth to retort but I

I managed another tense , uncomfortable

inside , ” I said

Thank you for … intervening and saving

”

།

to go , his voice

” he said his tone as cold as ever

come back ; cats can be

So ,

Shadows and

to wander around alone

”

on the door

did he know

was

? Panthers are messengers

– creatures and since they

had access to

doing

Dupree’s voice cut into

Is it common to see shifters in this part of

to face him , shaking my head , my unease growing

,” I said slowly

my first time running

”

had confirmed

, be careful , Miss

young

meant by that , he turned and walked away ,

4/10

<

and

the building

my skin prickling in a way it hadn’t

, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling

, but I

a deep breath , I

the café .

of the place did little to soothe my frayed nerves

and they immediately

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

at ease as if he

have come in when I was having those mysterious

on a slice of

Xander for a

him and his

talked about those shifters as if he knew I would understand what he meant

me like

a werewolf or any

creature ?

other

café and

5/10

Shadows and whispers

Xander’s table .

whispering something in Xander’s ears before taking the seat opposite him

in the interaction

that commanded the respect he seemed to carry,

almost as if , despite

Mr Dupree was the

the master .

this thought crossed my mind , Xander suddenly lifted

face and he raised his hand w

mile spread across

in a friendly

eyes locked

returned in full force , sending a shiver down my

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

, I looked away, hoping to

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

I could fully retreat, the front door of the café swung open

Shadows and whispers …

—

women

scents hit me … they

Dupree’s table that

all

was no way they could associate with

my mind