My Panther Mate & Our Little Cub novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26 An Awkward Visit

Finished

Wesley stared hard at Zachary’s face. His tone carried clear suspicion. “Since when are you so good to them?”

“Matthew is my mate. Jaden is my cub. Zachary looked back at him. “Is there a problem?”

Wesley opened his mouth. “You-”

Harper quickly grabbed Wesley and pulled him back, cutting him off. His face filled with forced kindness. “You know my leg isn’t good. Your brother and I have been out gathering these past two days. We only just heard that you fell into the water. I’m sorry, Zachary. Don’t be mad at me, okay?”

Zachary let out a silent, cold laugh in his heart. Yesterday, Matthew had just shared food with them. Today, they suddenly learned the news.

“Why do

you think I’m angry?” Zachary asked with an innocent look.

“I…” Harper suddenly didn’t know what to say.

His eyes shifted toward the food inside the cave. He stopped pretending and spoke directly. “Zachary, let me take some food back.”

Zachary replied plainly, “Didn’t the tribe just finish dividing the meat yesterday?”

Harper looked worried. “You know we didn’t get much.”

If it had been the middle of winter, Zachary might have understood a little. But right now, he didn’t believe

1. it.

From what Quincy and the others had said, every time the tribe went hunting together, part of the food was set aside for trading supplies. The rest was divided evenly among the tribe members.

This was especially true during autumn when food was plentiful. The hunting team had brought back a lot of big, fat prey yesterday. There was no way they had already run out today.

Zachary refused. “Jaden is still growing. Matthew works hard every time he goes out. They both need a lot of food.”

Harper frowned at him.

In Beastworld, there was no rule that required children to support their parents like in human society. Even so, therians and sub–therians usually respected their fathers.

Wesley felt that Zachary was strange. He wondered if Zachary had really damaged his brain when he hit his

head.

Zachary acted as if he didn’t notice their strange expressions and kept speaking.

“There’s plenty of food outside right now. You and Wesley can go look around. You’ll definitely find enough.

“There are also smaller animals nearby. Jaden even brought back a clucking beast the other day.

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Moonstories

Chapter 26 An Awkward Visit

“Sire, you should move around more, too. It’s good for your health.”

Harper and Wesley both looked very upset.

Finished

Matthew and Jaden watched Harper and Wesley walk out of the cave empty–handed. They looked at each other with surprise on their faces. At the same time, they both turned to look at Zachary.

Matthew had even prepared to go hunting today. Yet the food in the cave was still there.

“What’s wrong?” Zachary walked over and spoke softly. “Are you surprised?”

The father and son didn’t answer.

Zachary smiled a little. “I may not remember anything now, but I can still feel it. They probably treated me badly before, right?”

Matthew and Jaden stayed silent.

Zachary bent down and rubbed the top of Jaden’s head. At the same time, he looked up at Matthew. His voice sounded sincere.

“In the past… You two must have had a hard time.”

Matthew’s pupils widened. It was only one sentence, but it made him freeze in place.

Jaden felt Zachary’s gentle touch on his head. A soft feeling spread through his heart.

“Oh!” Zachary suddenly remembered that the meal was not finished yet! Harper and Wesley had delayed him earlier. He quickly turned and went back into the cave.

Matthew and Jaden didn’t sit idle. One of them added more firewood under the pot while the other turned the meat pieces.

The meat from the moo beast cooked very quickly. After a short time, several large pieces were done. A sprinkle of coarse salt was enough before taking them off the fire.

Zachary took the cooked apples out of the pot. He put one in a bowl for himself, then gave Matthew and Jaden two big apples each.

Jaden looked at the yellowish–red fruit in his bowl. He felt confused about why Zachary cooked it instead of eating it raw.

Warm fruit fragrance filled the air. The steamed apples tasted slightly sour, and the texture was soft and dense.

Jaden took a bite. He liked this way of eating them. After only a few bites, the apple was gone.

Matthew didn’t seem picky about food. As long as it was edible, he ate it. His face stayed calm as usual.

Zachary didn’t have much appetite for the meat in front of him that morning. He only cut himself a small piece. He gave the rest to Matthew and Jaden.

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Chapter 26 An Awkward Visit

Not long after they finished eating, Quincy and the others arrived.

Taylor ran ahead first. His cheerful and excited voice sounded from the cave entrance, “Jaden, are you ready?”

“Come in,” Zachary said as he greeted them.

He took the remaining steamed apples from the stone pot. He wrapped them in leaves and handed them to Taylor. “These are for you, Quincy, and Yael.”

Taylor had already been completely won over by Zachary’s cooking. After tasting the warm,/sweet, soft fruit, he became very happy.

Quincy took a bite of the fruit in his hand. He looked surprised. “Zachary, how did you make this?”

Zachary smiled. “Just put the big red fruit in water and boil it.”

Yael quickly swallowed the fruit in just a few bites. He didn’t even spit out the seeds.

Zachary picked up all the animal skin bags in the cave. He looked eager. “Let’s go.”

Before he finished speaking, Matthew and Yael suddenly turned into two huge black leopards. Their fur looked smooth and dark. Strong muscles formed clean lines across their bodies. Their eyes carried the cold look of fierce beasts.

Zachary felt shocked. He stood very close to those massive animals, which were far bigger than normal. Even though he knew they were Matthew and Yael, the powerful and frightening presence around them still made him freeze where he stood.

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