My Panther Mate & Our Little Cub novel Chapter 137

Chapter 137 Waiting Through the Fever

Matthew nodded as he took the basin, quickly removing Zachary’s clothes before soaking a piece of beast- hide in the hot water. After wringing it dry, he bent over and carefully wiped the sweat from Zachary’s body with gentle, deliberate movements.

Zachary lay limp like a rag doll, his limbs soft and unresponsive, allowing Matthew to lift his arms, turn him over, support his legs, and cradle his face without the slightest resistance.

When he finished. Matthew sat at the head of the bed, wrapping Zachary tightly in the beast/hide blanket and pulling him into a half–embrace. Pressing his cheek against Zachary’s burning skin, his/voice came out low and hoarse. “Wake up, Zachary… don’t fall asleep…

Jaden entered carrying a bowl of hot water, carefully holding it out toward Zachary, while Taylor followed close behind. The moment he saw Zachary, his lips trembled, and he looked like he was about to cry again. He quickly rubbed his eyes, forcing the tears back.

Zachary remained unconscious. Before the water could even go down, it spilled from the corner of his mouth. Jaden and Taylor hurriedly wiped it away with their sleeves; both cubs‘ eyes rimmed red.

Matthew took a sip himself first, then fed Zachary mouth–to–mouth, using his tongue to keep the liquid from spilling back out. When the shaman’s herbal medicine was ready, he fed it to Zachary the same way– one mouthful at a time.

Quincy and Elias rushed over through the snow as soon as they heard the news. The moment they saw Zachary in this state, their eyes reddened instantly.

Medical knowledge in this world was primitive. The available remedies were little more than common herbs used to stop bleeding, reduce inflammation, or drive out parasites. Even something as simple as a cold or fever could be fatal–especially during the cold season. Most people could only rely on their own strength to endure it.

Bruce was already considered a highly skilled shaman, but even he couldn’t guarantee that his medicine would save Zachary. All he could do was silently pray to the Beast God, hoping for Zachary to overcome the illness.

The chief arrived as well. The atmosphere in the cave grew heavy, and no one spoke, each person quietly doing whatever they could.

By dawn, the sky had brightened. The others still needed to patrol and hunt, so Yael, Quincy, and Elias stayed behind to help care for Zachary.

Matthew sat silently by the bed, the veins on the back of his hand standing out starkly.

There had been a time before–Zachary had lain just like this, motionless. Back then, everyone had said it was because he had just given birth to Jaden, that his body was weak and he simply needed rest.

Matthew had sat there, waiting.

Three days later, Zachary had woken up–but he had changed.

Matthew didn’t understand anything about souls or transmigration. He only knew that the person who had awakened back then wasn’t his Zachary.

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Chapter 137 Waiting Through the Fever

So he continued waiting.

No one could tell him where Zachary had gone, or whether he would this home and keep waiting.

All

he could do was guard

Eight years. More than 2,900 days. Jaden had grown enough to call him Alpha, to walk, to begin learning how to hunt… and still, Zachary hadn’t come back.

Matthew had once thought that perhaps death was the end of waiting.

But Zachary finally returned.

Following the method Zachary had taught them before, Quincy and Elias stewed a pot of soup with raisins, mushrooms, and clucking beast meat. Once it was ready, they had Matthew feed a bowl to Zachary, then served one bowl each to the two cubs.

Jaden stared blankly at the soup in his bowl, chewing a piece of meat for a long time without swallowing.

Quincy gently patted his head. “Zachary will be okay.”

Elias nodded. “Yeah. Mr. Bruce has already prayed to the Beast God. The Beast God will protect your

Sire.”

Taylor quietly slipped the chicken leg from his own bowl into Jaden’s, then tugged at his hand. “Jaden, you have to eat properly… We’ll wait together.”

Starting from noon, Zachary had been sweating nonstop. Set after set of clothes had been soaked through, and the heat of his skin gradually lessened, no longer as scorching as before.

The shaman said it was a good sign, telling Matthew to keep him wrapped up while preparing another pot of herbal medicine and feeding it to him.

This time, Zachary reacted. His brows furrowed as he clenched his teeth, refusing to drink.

The herbs were unbearably bitter.

In his unconscious state, Zachary only felt as if someone were forcing a sour, spoiled concoction into his mouth–like something that had been fermenting for a week.

Matthew had no choice but to take a sip first, then pinch Zachary’s face and pry open his teeth with his fingers. Catching the moment he wasn’t resisting, he quickly fed the medicine in. To keep him from spitting it out, Matthew had to hold him firmly, ending up swallowing quite a bit himself by the time the bowl was finished.

Two more bowls of dark green liquid bubbled in Bruce’s pot, releasing a pungent, almost ominous smell.

Seeing that his medicine was working, Bruce was clearly pleased. Even the way he stirred the pot became livelier.

I really do have talent for this. I should study it more–one day, I’ll make a name for myself across the entire Beastworld! Jaden walked over and asked softly. “Mr. Bruce… can you add some fruit or stingtail beast food to the

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Chapter 137 Waiting Through the Fever

medicine?”

“Hmm?” Bruce looked up, puzzled. “Why?”

Jaden answered tactfully, “Sire keeps spitting it out. It’s a waste.”

“Oh, it’s fine. I made plenty.” Bruce said with a smile, gesturing toward the rack of dried plants behind him. “If we run out, I’ll just have Donald gather more.”

Taylor understood what Jaden meant and spoke up innocently, “Mr. Bruce, your medicine smells really

bad.”

Bruce fell silent.

Quincy quickly covered Taylor’s mouth, offering an apologetic smile. “Mr. Bruce, don’t listen to him.”

“It does smell… well…” Quincy hesitated, unable to lie outright. “What matters is that it works.”

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