My Panther Mate & Our Little Cub novel Chapter 176

Chapter 176 A Quiet Night

Finished

“You have blankets and everything else, so I won’t be bringing anything with me. It’s just as well. We can take a dip in the hot springs now.”

Donald parted his lips to reply, but eventually chose to hold his tongue.

Matthew thanked the shaman.

Bruce waved it away with a smile before telling him to bring Zachary along to watch the show if he had the

chance.

After Donald returned to the cave, he couldn’t help but feel antsy. He suddenly found his place a complete eyesore. So, he ended up spending his entire afternoon fussing over his cave.

He nearly went for a full rehaul when he was cleaning it, going as far as to change the beast–hide bedding on ngon the bed for new ones.

There was only one bed, which would naturally be left for the shaman.

Donald brought in some branches and dry grass to set up a temporary bed on the floor about two or three meters away, planning to make do for the night.

By the time Bruce arrived, Donald was sitting stiffly by the fire. In fact, he was staring at the brownish–gray stone wall, completely lost in thought.

Bruce fell silent before asking, “Aren’t we going to the hot spring?”

Donald immediately jerked to his feet. “Let’s go.”

And so, the two black panthers padded through the silent snowy forest one after another and quickly headed to their destination.

The first thing that greeted them was warm steam. Bruce immediately shifted back into human form and stood naked by the water.

Perhaps it was due to the fact that he wasn’t suited for the great outdoors, as his skin was pale and his frame was lean. There was only a layer of thin muscles on his abdomen and arms.

Compared to the other tall and brawny therians, he definitely looked much frailer.

Bruce asked Donald, “Did you bring the soapberry fruit?”

Donald looked away and handed the fruit over.

The sound of water splashing against the rocks echoed in his ears.

When Donald looked back, he found Bruce already soaking in the hot spring, waving at him with a smile. “Well, aren’t you going to join me?”

I’ll go over there, Donald answered, stepping toward the other side of the hot spring.

Bruce replied, “I can’t reach my back.”

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Chapter 176 A Quiet Night

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Donald stopped short, hesitating over his decision.

“You don’t want to?”

“That’s not it.”

Donald usually led the hunting parties, so he was very strong even by therian standards. Therefore, it wasn’t surprising that he possessed rippling muscles.

Truth be told, Donald wasn’t exactly the strong and silent type when he was hanging out with Matthew and the others. He actually had quite the sense of humor. However, that disappeared when he was around Bruce.

The two of them leaned against the stone wall of the hot spring side by side. The steam was thick, and the heat slowly brought a flush to their faces.

Bruce lay back as he began to reminisce about the past.

He couldn’t help but remember the dreadful nightmare he had lived back when he was seven. A disease had suddenly appeared in many tribes, causing many therians to break out in red spots and suffer from high fevers.

His Sire and younger brother had also fallen ill. He could still remember the pallid look on their faces, their breathing labored as they lay on the bed on the verge of death.

Donald’s Sire had been the tribe’s shaman at the time. He had experimented with the herbs and finally found a cure for the disease through trial and error. Unfortunately, the herbs required for the cure were difficult to find.

In the end, Bruce’s Sire and younger brother didn’t make it.

Time passed, and so did his Alpha. That was when Donald’s Sire and Alpha took Bruce in.

Donald’s family was very good to Bruce. Donald’s Sire even taught Bruce everything he knew.

Donald was seven years older than Bruce, so he took extra care of his new adopted younger brother. One could even say that he doted on Bruce more than his own parents.

Bruce was a bit of an introvert, but he could always be convinced to run around if Donald was the one who dragged him out of the cave. As a result, Donald would often bring him out to “see the sun” before carrying a tuckered–out Bruce back home.

When Donald became an adult, he started following the tribe’s therians on long hunting trips. Bruce would

by the entrance and wait for him whenever news came that they were returning.

It didn’t matter how late it would get, as Bruce would refuse to sleep until he saw Donald safe and sound.

When therians mated, they usually moved out of their family’s cave. Nevertheless, Donald was an exception, as he had been kicked out.

Donald’s Sire and Alpha were fed up with Donald’s stubborn refusal to get a mate, even though he was already of age.

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ال

Chapter 176 A Quiet Night

Finished

It didn’t help that there were plenty of sub–therians who were interested in him because it only served to highlight his refusal to settle down.

Hence, he was now living all alone in that huge cave he got for himself.

Bruce couldn’t help but snicker when he thought about it. Donald was in his 30s now, but he was still very much a child in his parents‘ eyes. It was hilarious to see him get his ears twisted while they lectured him.

The funniest part was that he couldn’t even talk back, lest he stoke their ire further. Most of the time, he would end up facing the wall and refusing to talk to them when his mortification got the better of him.

“What’s so funny?” Donald asked, cutting his laughter short.

“Nothing.” Bruce shook his head with a smile, scooted closer to him, turned around, and leaned against the stone wall. “Scrub my back.”

Bruce’s back was beautiful. His protruding shoulder blades looked like butterfly wings, the curve of his waist was just right, and he had two faint dimples down at…

Donald’s palms were calloused, and Bruce’s skin was tender. So, he made an effort to keep his movements as light as possible.

Bruce’s eyes fell half–lidded in comfort. He rested his face on his arms, feeling drowsy.

After an inordinate amount of time, Donald murmured softly, “Let’s go back.”

Bruce hummed in agreement as he lazily rose to his feet. When he turned, he saw that Donald had already shifted into a black panther and was waiting for him.

Bruce was in no hurry, choosing to take his time to dry himself.

Donald couldn’t help but feel awkward. He didn’t know where to look, so he turned his eyes to the moon.

The night sky was pitch black by the time the two black panthers returned to the cave. Since it was already winter, no one was out and about because of the snow. Even the sounds of nature seemed muffled due to

the blanket of snow.

Donald started a fire and roasted some meat for their dinner.

Bruce looked around the cave. He couldn’t help but frown when he noticed the pile of grass on the floor. It displeased him greatly, and he had to force himself not to kick it away.

“Dinner’s ready,” Donald said.

There was a very tender tenderloin served on the plate.

Bruce ate heartily. He had work to do later and refused to do it on an empty stomach.

After dinner, Donald promptly went about cleaning the dishes and utensils.

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