My Panther Mate & Our Little Cub novel Chapter 109

Chapter 109 A Blue Promise

Bruce smiled. “So… is Zachary still wandering around at night?”

“He’s fine,” Matthew lied. “Probably just getting used to it.”

Bruce nodded. “Then, what brought you here?”

Matthew didn’t forget why he came. “Will that medicine have any effect on sub–therians‘ bodies?”

Finished

“It’s nothing serious,” Bruce said. He’d tried it himself–slept well and woke up feeling refreshed the next day.

Matthew understood and thanked the shaman.

“Come back for more when you run out,” Bruce added. “I’ve got plenty.”

“Got it.”

When Zachary saw the sudden surplus of salt at home, he was thrilled.

He’d been wanting to pickle the wild greens he’d gathered earlier, to store them for winter. But since they were low on salt, he’d held off, afraid of wasting it.

Now that he knew he could use it freely, he got to work right away.

Matthew and Jaden joined in–one scrubbing the stone jar, the other boiling water to blanch the greens.

Zachary focused on sorting and washing the stored wild greens carefully.

Matthew’s gaze drifted behind him, landing on Zachary’s backside as he squatted. His throat bobbed involuntarily.

Truth be told, he’d been uneasy all day.

Even though he’d exercised extreme restraint the night before, there was no had felt nothing at all.

the

Cneath him

confronted, foto confess, then doing whatever

it took it t

He’d already braced himself for the

wors

to make things right.

Letting go wasn’t an

1. on.

But Zachary acted completely normal. Aside from the occasional flicker of discomfort when he sat down, there was nothing unusual.

And once people got away with something, they tended to push their luck.

Matthew’s eyes darkened, anticipation building for what would come next.

Pickling was simple. The wild greens were briefly blanched in boiling water, then rinsed in cold water and

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Chapter 109 A Blue Promise

squeezed dry.

Layer by layer–greens, then salt–they packed everything into the stone jar. A heavy rock went on top, and the jar was set in a cool, ventilated spot.

Zachary wasn’t allowed to lift a finger during the process. The two of them worked like they were competing, each trying to outdo the other.

For dinner, Zachary decided to make braised meat.

There was no sugar, so he used honey instead. Even if it turned out awful, it wouldn’t go to waste with Matthew and Jaden around.

Still, he had some confidence in his cooking.

The porcupine meat was cut into chunks, then blanched in cold water with slices of ginger. The honey was slowly heated until it darkened, then the meat, onions, ginger, and spices were added and stir–fried together. Finally, warm water went in, and everything was simmered over high heat until the meat turned

tender.

The pot was full–glossy, rich, and jiggling like gelatin.

The rabbit Jaden had hunted had already been sent to Avery for tanning. As for the meat, Zachary planned to marinate it, coat it with spices, and roast it over the fire.

Matthew and Jaden helped out nearby..

When the rabbit was nearly done, Jaden instinctively reached for the chili powder Zachary had made earlier, ready to sprinkle it on.

Zachary quickly stopped him.

His backside had been uncomfortable all day–there was no way he could handle spicy food on top of that.

Jaden looked at his Sire in confusion.

Zachary said gently, “Let’s tear it up first and season it separately. I want to try it without spice today.”

Matthew’s gaze lingered on Zachary’s face, completely unaware that he was the reason for it.

The honey–braised meat turned out surprisingly good. The meat was soaked with sauce, melting in the

mouth–soft, tender, and not greasy.

There was a hint of

Weetness

,perfect for a cub’s taste.

before moving on to the freshly roasted rabbit.

Jaden ate four or five chunks in

After dinner, Matthew handed the cub off to wash the pot, then walked over to Zachary and held out a closed fist.

Zachary looked up from the fire. “What is it?”

Matthew slowly opened his long fingers.

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fapter 109 A Blue Promise

In his palm lay an ice–blue gemstone–clear and radiant, the same color as Zachary’s eyes.

Pure. Captivating.

Zachary shot to his feet, staring without blinking. “It’s beautiful!”

Matthew was very pleased with his reaction. That little sparring match with Donald had been worth it.

Seeing him hold the pose, Zachary asked, “Is it for me?”

Matthew nodded.

Zachary took it carefully.

The sapphire was stunning–a round gem resting in his palm like a tiny ocean.

Matthew spoke in his usual domineering tone. “There’ll be plenty more.”

“Thank you.” Zachary accepted it, already thinking about drilling a hole and wearing it as a pendant.

After washing up, Zachary began to worry.

The shaman’s medicine didn’t seem to be working. Life was still long ahead–what was he supposed to do?”

As if he could read his thoughts, Matthew stood nearby and said calmly, “I’m fine.”

Zachary turned, his face looking troubled. “But this will mess with your sleep.”

Matthew thought it over seriously before offering, “Then come sleep with me. The door won’t make noise, and I won’t get woken up.”

Zachary felt both touched by Matthew’s generosity and helpless about his strange condition.

He hesitated.

Matthew kept his eyes on him, catching every flicker

of expression

“It’s dangerous outside the cave at night,” he added evenly. “If you run out, I’ll know.”

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