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

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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

at the condescending remark

retort but I thought better of

, I managed another tense , uncomfortable smile

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

Thank you for …

I moved to go

, ” he said his tone as

might come back ;

So ,

Shadows and whispers

to wander around alone again

hand on the

he know

he was letting

? Panthers

to track stray were – creatures and since they

had access to almost any

doing here

Dupree’s voice cut into

to see shifters in this part of

shaking

I said slowly

This is my first

had confirmed

be careful ,

place for a young woman

him what he meant by that , he

4/10

<

and whispers …

the building

, watching him go , my skin

trying to shake off the unsettling feeling

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

breath , I

the café .

, the familiar warmth of the place did little to soothe

room , and they immediately

of the tables , casually scring through his phone

he hadn’t a care in the

have come in when I was having those

a slice

eyes lingered on Xander for

him and his father felt

had talked about those shifters as

treat me like I was

he a werewolf

creature ?

other

as he entered the café and made his

5/10

and whispers

Xander’s table .

, whispering something in Xander’s ears

the interaction but to me ,

presence and a strange aura that commanded the respect he seemed to carry, the way he bowed his

was almost as if , despite

was the

the master .

suddenly lifted his eyes and our gaze

and he raised his hand w

mile spread across

at me in a friendly manner

eyes locked ,

force , sending

a weak smile, feeling my heart beat a little

I looked away, hoping to avoid further

focus , get back to work and ignore the growing

I could fully retreat, the front door

Shadows and

newcomers entered two women and a

… they

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

all

associate with those two and not be

my mind whirled with questions

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