My Panther Mate & Our Little Cub novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34 A Pretty Face

Jaden slipped the stone blade into his belt and said, “Alpha, Sire, we’re setting off now.”

Matthew cast him a brief look. “Alright.”

Zachary reminded them repeatedly, “Stay alert out there. Be careful.”

“Don’t worry-I’ve got him!” Taylor grinned, waving with bright eyes. As he passed Zachary, he leaned an and added in a low voice, “Don’t forget to save me something good to eat.”

Zachary reached out and ruffled both cubs’ hair. “Of course.”

Matthew stepped outside, gathered a few stones, and arranged them in a circle around the freshly dug pit/ After evening them out, he placed the stone pot on top to check the fit.

Zachary looked at the newly built stove, clearly impressed. “Matthew, that’s incredible.”

Matthew crouched beside him. “I’ll handle it.”

“You picked that up just by watching?” Zachary asked, surprised.

Matthew gave a small nod. He grabbed a vine and threaded it through the tightly bound branches, looping and tying it with steady, practiced movements. As expected, he followed the exact same technique Zachary had used.

Zachary couldn’t help but admire it. That kind of practical skill was seriously impressive.

Soon enough, the wooden door was finished. Zachary trimmed and smoothed the edges with the stone blade, then had Matthew carry it to the cave entrance and fit it into the grooves they had carved earlier

above and below.

It slid open and shut with ease-very convenient.

To keep out the wind, Zachary also made a curtain from the beast hide and hung it on the inside.

At that moment, Kyle and Daniel happened to pass by during their patrol. They walked over and leaned in to take a closer look. “Matthew, Zachary, this thing you made is really useful!”

The sudden voice behind him startled Zachary.

Matthew steadied him. “They’re Kyle and Daniel.”

Zachary pressed a hand to his chest, calming himself, then smiled at them.

His smile was gentle, like a warm breeze in spring sunlight.

Daniel froze for a second before breaking into a silly grin in return.

Kyle nudged him with his elbow, silently telling him not to get carried away by a pretty face-Matthew wa already a perfect example of what could happen.

Matthew stepped forward and looked at them. “Finished with patrol?”

10:42 Fri, Jun 5

Chapter 34 A Pretty Face

Kyle blinked. “Oh yeah, just wrapped up. Ethan and Asher are taking over.”

“Can you show us how to make this?” Daniel glanced at his own cave, then back at the door, clearly tempted.

This “door” only needed a light push to open and another to close. There was even a wooden bar across.it- slide it into place, and it stayed firmly shut.

Zachary still needed one for his sleeping space anyway, so when he saw their interest, he agreed without hesitation. He began explaining while guiding them step by step.

Matthew watched the three of them, then pushed Daniel aside and crouched next to Zachary. “I’ll teach them.”

“Oh, alright.” Zachary brushed the wood shavings from his hands and stood. “Then I’ll go sort what we brought back yesterday.”

“Alright.”

Kyle lowered his voice. “Matthew, Zachary’s really changed. Did you notice? He actually smiled just now.”

Daniel added, “Yeah, and he looks great when he smiles. Not like before-always so fierce. He used to scare me to death.”

Matthew shot him a cold glance.

“Ow-” Daniel clutched his hand and whispered, “Matthew, you jabbed me!”

Matthew replied flatly, “I didn’t see you.”

Kyle watched, amused. “Keep staring at Zachary like that, and Matthew’s going to poke your eyes out next.”

Daniel finally caught on, but when he thought about the past, a trace of sympathy still lingered in his gaze. “Matthew, don’t worry. In the whole tribe, you’re the only one who could handle Zachary.”

Kyle added lazily, “Maybe the Beast God finally took pity. Zachary’s changed a lot—you don’t have to suffer anymore.”

Daniel patted Matthew’s shoulder. “Exactly.”

Matthew ignored them both, his expression unreadable. “Did you learn it?”

Kyle and Daniel nodded.

Matthew stood and calmly dismissed them. “You can leave now.”

“What?”

Just like that?

“Why are you still here?” Matthew raised a brow. “Next hunt, I’ll have Donald send you two to the front to deal with the moo beast.”

“No way!” At the mention of that, Kyle and Daniel bolted instantly.

10:42 Fri, Jun 5 MO

Chapter 34 A Pretty Face

Zachary had just finished rinsing the mushrooms and was about to lay them out to dry when he saw Matthew carrying the newly made door back inside.

He glanced over. “Kyle and Daniel already left?”

Matthew remained composed. “Yeah, they’ve got things to do.”

After spreading the mushrooms out, Zachary decided to wash all the raisins while the sun was still strong sq they could dry properly for storage.

He first sorted out the damaged ones and those with wormholes, then placed the rest back into the beast- hide bag. Matthew slung it over his shoulder and led Zachary toward a nearby stream.

After weaving through dense layers of forest and walking for a while, the soft sound of flowing water reached their ears.

They pushed aside tall grass and tangled branches, revealing a stream about six and a half feet wide winding down from higher ground. Rocks of all sizes scattered through the middle, rough and jagged, while those along the edges were slick with moss.

The water was crystal clear. By the bank, Zachary shifted a few stones to form a small makeshift pool. Matthew crouched beside it, emptied the raisins into the water, and began scrubbing them with both hands.

They worked side by side. After washing only a couple of handfuls, something wedged between the rocks caught Zachary’s attention.

He stood, removed his beast-hide shoes, and stepped barefoot into the stream. The water was still quite cold in this weather. The moment it touched his skin, he sucked in a sharp breath, the chill biting deep-though he quickly adjusted after a moment.

312

Transmigrated to Raise Panther Cubs