My Panther Mate & Our Little Cub novel Chapter 116

Transmigrated to Raise Panther Cubs

Chapter 116 Blade at His Throat

Finished

Matthew fixed his gaze on Gerald with cold, unreadable eyes, but the hand gripping his knife hesitated for just a moment.

Gerald took that pause as a victory and steadied his voice. “You need to understand who Zachary actually listens to.”

His tone even edged into something threatening. “If he finds out you…”

He didn’t get to finish. Matthew drove his fist into him again, and then again, giving him no opening to say another word.

Gerald’s face twisted with fury, and he shifted into beast form and launched himself at Matthew.

Matthew had worn his older clothes for the hunt, and he shifted into his black panther form without hesitation, meeting Gerald head–on.

Gerald was a lynx, smaller than a full–grown black panther by a noticeable margin, middle–aged, and hampered by his injured leg. He was never going to win this fight, and it didn’t take long before Matthew had him pinned to the ground.

Gerald had no choice but to retract his fangs and go limp in submission.

Matthew spat out a mouthful of grey fur and wrinkled his nose with undisguised distaste.

Fights between beastfolk traditionally ended once one party yielded.

Today was different.

Matthew hadn’t nearly gotten it out of his system. He grabbed the grey lynx and drove him into the ground over and over, with the focused, mechanical thoroughness of someone tenderizing meat.

Gerald’s eyes rolled back. He managed a few pained sounds at the start, and then even that much was beyond him.

It wasn’t until Harper and Wesley came back from collecting the food ration that Matthew finally, unhurriedly, released his grip. He gave his tail a single sweep and walked away without looking back.

“Gerald!”

“Alpl “Alpha!”

Harper and Wesley rushed forward to assess the damage, and the two of them dissolved into tearful distress over Gerald’s crumpled form.

“Not dead yet.” Gerald was forced to open one eye, breathing in shallow, labored pulls. “Get the shaman.”

Matthew lingered outside the cave without going in.

It was Zachary who noticed the dark shape in the tree line. He moved closer, and his brow immediately furrowed. Matthew, why do you smell like blood?

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Chapter 116 Blade at His Throat

“Did you get hurt hunting?”

The worry hit him fast. “Show me right now.”

The black panther shook his head and slipped his gaze sideways, ducking into the cave.

Finished

Zachary followed right behind him and walked into the sight of Matthew, freshly shifted back, standing there completely bare and entirely unconcerned about it.

“My clothes tore,” he said, very calmly.

Zachary made a concentrated effort to keep his eyes disciplined and walked over. “It’s fine. I’ll make you new

ones.”

That wasn’t the point, though.

“Where are you hurt?” he asked quickly.

Matthew turned slightly and bared his left shoulder.

Several deep gashes ran across it, still bleeding freely.

“What got you?” Zachary stared directly at the wound, not daring to touch it yet, afraid of making it worse.

“Gerald,” Matthew said.

“Sorry?” Zachary couldn’t immediately place the name.

“Your Alpha,” Matthew repeated. “Your Alpha did this.”

“Why did he scratch you?” Zachary felt his irritation flare. The man was practically ancient, barely had any fur left to speak of after yesterday, and still couldn’t behave himself.

“I hit him first,” Matthew said.

Zachary blinked. “Why?”

“He hurt you.”

“You… you already know about yesterday?”

“Yes.” Matthew looked at him steadily. “I was angry.”

“It really wasn’t that serious.” Zachary managed a small smile. “I didn’t come out of it badly. I scorched a pretty sizeable patch of him.”

“I noticed,” Matthew said, moving a fraction closer. “It looked terrible.”

Zachary dropped his gaze with a slightly sheepish laugh, and then jerked his head back up.

He’d forgotten Matthew was still completely undressed.

And at that exact moment, Matthew was looking down at him, and Zachary’s upturned face brought his nose directly into contact with Matthew’s warm, unhurried lips.

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Chapter 116 Blade at His Throat

Zachary’s eyes went wide. His heart seemed to miss a beat entirely.

Finished

Matthew didn’t move. He looked at the tremble in Zachary’s lashes and, for the first time in his life, found himself mildly inconvenienced by how tall he was.

One second. Two seconds.

Zachary came back to himself and took several swift steps backward, putting real distance between them.

The warm breath at his nose faded. Matthew pressed a hand over his shoulder, and a faint, involuntary flicker of pain crossed his face.

Zachary moved back to him quickly. “Sit on the bed. I’ll get some water and clean that wound.”

Matthew had the good sense of someone who knew when to accept help, and he leaned against Zackary with carefully measured weight as they moved.

Jaden had already slipped out to get medicine from the shaman on his own initiative.

The pot held heated water, ready and waiting.

Zachary carried the stone basin in with some effort and found Matthew still without a stitch of clothing on.

He chose his words carefully. “Would you… maybe want to put something on first? It’s cold in here. You’ll get sick.”

Matthew looked at him. “My clothes are in the other cave.”

“I’ll get them.”

Looking at the sparse collection hanging on the rack, several of them worn through in places, Zachary decided he needed to make Matthew considerably more than he currently had.

He ought to have something decent to wear when he went out, at the very least.

He picked out a beast hide wrap that was easy enough to put on, the kind that simply tied at the side.

It was fine to be without something more for the time in between. There was no one else in the cave.

Matthew sat on the edge of the bed with patient compliance and watched Zachary tend to his wound with deliberate, careful hands.

He found the concern in Zachary’s eyes deeply satisfying.

Matthew did feel a small pang of regret. He probably should have let Gerald get a few more strikes in.

Jaden had run the whole way and was back with the medicine before long.

Zachary took it from him, and Matthew gave the cub a brief, pointed look.

Jaden pressed his lips together, turned around, and walked out.

“This might sting a little,” Zachary said gently. “Bear with it.”

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Chapter 116 Blade at His Throat

“Alright.”

Finished

By the time the wound had been properly cleaned and dressed, Matthew spoke without any warning. Something uncertain had crept into his voice. “I’m sorry.”

“What are you apologizing to me for?” Zachary looked at him, genuinely confused.

“I hit Gerald.” Matthew lowered his eyes. “He’s… your Alpha.

“He said you’re family.”

Zachary looked at him quietly. This was a man of extraordinary strength, and yet right now there was something in him that Zachary couldn’t quite name, something that felt unexpectedly, inexplicably fragile.

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