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

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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

burned at

opened my mouth to retort but I thought better

, I managed another

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

… intervening

”

།

moved to go ,

panther shifters , ” he said his tone

might come back ; cats can

So ,

and whispers

not to wander around alone

”

froze my hand on the

he know

knew more than he was letting on ?

? Panthers

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

, they had access to almost any

were they doing

cut into my

see shifters in this part of

shaking

,” I said

is my first time running into

”

had

Well , be careful , Miss Lyla

a young woman … especially one with your unique qualities

meant by that , he turned and walked

4/10

<

and

the building

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

rubbed my arms , trying to shake off

right , but I couldn’t quite put my finger

, I turned

the café .

familiar warmth of the place did little to soothe my

eyes scanned the room , and they immediately

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

ease as if he hadn’t a care

when I was having those mysterious calls

on a

eyes lingered on Xander for a moment

and his father

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

didn’t treat me like I was

a werewolf

– creature ?

other

he entered the café and made his way to

5/10

and whispers

Xander’s table .

Xander’s ears before taking the

have seen nothing wrong in the interaction but

seemed to carry, the

was almost as if

, Mr Dupree was the servant and Xander

the master .

thought crossed my mind , Xander suddenly lifted his eyes and

face and he raised his hand w

mile spread across

in a friendly manner

moment our eyes locked

apprehension returned in full force , sending

feeling my heart beat a little too

away, hoping to avoid

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

front door of the café swung

and

—

two women and a man

… they were

Xander and Mr Dupree’s table that was when everything

all werewolves

could associate with those

and my mind whirled with questions