My Panther Mate & Our Little Cub novel Chapter 160

Chapter 160 Restless Nights

“You’re on your cycle right now. If we didn’t handle it, you’d end up feeling a lot worse.

“It’ll pass in a few days.

“Just behave and do what I say.”

“Awoo!”

Finished

That’s not even the issue–I don’t want fish chowder. Your taste buds are broken, but mine are fine. I can’t handle fishy

soup.

Zachary quickly realized arguing was pointless. He jumped out of Matthew’s lap, ran into the storage area,

up, grabbed a piece of fruit in his mouth, then returned to the beast–hide mat near the fire and curled chewing it miserably like his whole world had fallen apart.

“Fruit won’t keep you full,” Matthew said softly, crouching beside him.

The lynx turned his head away, refusing to meet his eyes.

Matthew understood the message instantly. “Alright, I’m sorry. If you really don’t want it, I won’t push tonight.

“But you still need to eat. At least drink the fish chowder.”

“Awoo!”

No way.

Zachary mentally decided he’d been far too polite up to now. The moment he shifted back into human form, he was going to look Matthew straight in the eye and seriously tell him the truth–his fish chowder was awful.

Matthew frowned, replaying the previous night in his head. It had been more intense than usual, but he was sure he’d been paying attention to Zachary the whole time.

“Are you feeling unwell?” Matthew asked, scooping him up again, worry creeping into his voice. “Maybe I should take you to the shaman.”

“Awoo!”

い

Zachary was fuming. He stopped eating, then darted straight into the inner chamber and dove under the beast–hide blankets.

Matthew had no choice but to follow, fruit still in hand. “Hey… weren’t you eating this?

“Your voice sounds a bit rough. Come on, just eat.”

Zachary ignored him completely.

Matthew exhaled, genuinely stuck now, silently blaming himself for never learning how to properly understand him.

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Chapter 160 Restless Nights

Finishett

“Do I need to call the shaman over?”

Zachary suddenly popped his head out, glaring hard. “Awoo!”

The cave is already a mess. How can he even be thinking about that? And I already told him–I just don’t want his fish chowder.

Matthew sighed. “Then just finish the fruit and get some rest, okay?”

Zachary had officially given up on “talking.” He nodded once and went back to eating.

A little later, it clicked for him that after shifting forms, his emotions had become way more intense than usual. That wasn’t normal for him..

The chowder had gone cold, so Matthew ended up drinking it himself. Then he sat down cross–legged by the fire, lost in thought.

Zachary’s moods were sharp but short–lived.

And honestly, he really wanted Matthew to hold him.

He hopped down from the bed like nothing had happened and padded over.

“You’re up?” Matthew pulled him into his arms immediately, burying his face against Zachary’s belly.

“Meow…”

A growl came from his stomach.

“Are you hungry?” Matthew asked.

Panicking that Matthew might cook more fish chowder, Zachary quickly stood up and lightly bit his finger, signaling him to follow.

In the storage room, he stopped right in front of the rice supply. “Meow.”

“You want congee?” Matthew asked.

“Meow.” A nod.

Finally, he got it.

Without hesitation, Matthew rolled up his sleeves and started cooking.

Zachary stayed close, guarding the pot with watchful, hungry eyes.

Anyone seeing him after being exhausted all night and then left hungry until nearly afternoon would’ve thought he’d been through something tragic.

When he finally tasted the sweet, warm congee, the lynx looked like he could’ve cried from relief.

Matthew frowned slightly. Zachary looked like he’d been seriously mistreated.

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Chapter 160 Restless Nights

Was I being too harsh? That can’t really count, right? Maybe it’s just different when we’re both in beast form.

Jaden was worried about Zachary and tried to rush back home early that morning.

But Yael stopped him firmly, holding him back. “Your Sire and Alpha aren’t finished yet. They’re busy!”

Quincy hurried over as well, saying he needed the cubs‘ help with something. Between the two of them.. they managed to keep Jaden distracted and stop him from leaving.

A satisfied appetite has a way of waking up other instincts.

And just like that, the cave came alive again.

For two straight days and nights, Zachary barely stepped outside except when absolutely necessary.

At first, he could still make small sounds. Later, even that faded–he was too exhausted. He mostly just lay there, completely drained.

One moment it was Matthew’s handsome human face, the next it was a black panther.

Whenever Zachary started crying, Matthew would shift back to human form but keep his ears and tail, leaning in to soothe him gently.

The moment he relaxed, it would start all over again. Repeated endlessly.

Day turned into night, then night into day again.

Everything blurred together. Real rest never came.

Eventually, Zachary made it through the first phase of his cycle. The naive version of him had been told by Matthew that all sub–therians went through it the same way.

Zachary believed him completely.

He didn’t know Matthew had quietly added a few “personal adjustments” of his own.

When Zachary finally stepped out of the cave again, it felt unreal–like he’d been gone for ages. After so many days without proper day or night awareness, the bright sunlight hit him with a strange wave of nostalgia.

His body was tired, but his mood had lightened a lot. That earlier restlessness and sens

gone.

The silver–gray lynx stretched out on a rock near the entrance, lazily soaking up placed a beast–hide mat underneath him and set fresh fruit within reach.

the

Matthew.

had

Kyle and Ethan had dropped off freshly caught fish and butchered meat earlier that morning.

Matthew was down by the stream, scaling and cleaning the fish. Afterward, he’d either hang them bury them in snow to keep them fresh.

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Chapter 160 Restless Nights

When Taylor and Jaden arrived, Zachary was already dozing off. His long lashes rested against his cheeks, and a soft breeze made the fur tufts on his ears flick gently.

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