My Panther Mate & Our Little Cub novel Chapter 45

Chapter 45 Waiting for Him to Come Back

At dinner, Zachary had simmered a pot of mushroom meat soup with raisins and dried cranberries. The clucking beast Matthew had grabbed before leaving was still tied up outside with vines.

The rain hit suddenly, big heavy drops pelting down and whipped around by the wind. The tree branches rattled and shook under the blast.

He rushed to shut the door. A flash of lightning split the night sky, and a few cracks of thunder boomed right beside him.

His pupils shrank, and his body shook without thinking. The memory of being struck by lightning flashed vividly-he could still feel that searing pain deep in his bones.

He staggered back two steps, nearly losing his balance and falling.

“Sire?” Jaden ran over fast. His hands were steadying Zachary with worry.

“I’m fine.” Zachary forced a tight smile onto his tense expression. He took a deep breath, stiffly latched the door, then wedged a big stone behind it, afraid the wind might blow it open.

Jaden’s eyes were full of unease. Remembering Matthew’s warning before he left, he quickly ladled a bowl of warm clucking beast soup for Zachary and kept glancing at him while they ate.

Zachary barely touched his meal. He hadn’t expected a single lightning strike to leave such a mark on him. The fear in his body and mind was completely uncontrollable.

I wonder how Matthew is…

He sighed and kept sneaking glances at the door.

Rain pounded against the stone walls, a dull, drumming sound. Agitated, Zachary set down the bowls and utensils.

He picked up the snow wolf hides and sat by the fire to stitch. His head bent low.

“Leave the rest of the soup in the pot,” he said.

Jaden nodded, quickly washing the bowls and utensils, then wiping down the table.

There was no clock here. Once the sun set, night blurred the hours. Zachary didn’t know how long he’d been sitting until his neck and back ached, forcing him to stand and stretch.

He yawned. Outside, the rain kept up, growing louder.

He shook his silver-gray robe.

Almost done. Another night, and it should be ready for Matthew to wear when he gets back.

The fire dwindled, and he pressed the last embers out with stones before heading back to the bedroom.

Jaden was asleep, curled up small under the beast-hide bedding, breathing softly.

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10:44 Fri, Jun 5

Chapter 45 Waiting for Him to Come Back

Zachary had just taken off his robe when a knock came from the cave entrance. He hurried out of bed

The cave was pitch black. He groped his way to the door and called out, urgency in his voice, “Is that you, Matthew?”

“Mm, I’m back.” Matthew’s deep voice rumbled through the cave.

Zachary immediately moved the rock and swung the door open. Cold wind mixed with rain hit him in the face, and he shivered.

Matthew rushed inside and shut the door. Even in the dark, the black panther’s night vision/let him make out Zachary’s outline clearly.

Zachary reached out into the darkness and felt the wet beast-hide first, then the icy skin beneath it. Even without seeing, he could picture exactly how drenched Matthew was.

“I’m soaked.” Matthew stepped back a couple of paces.

“I’ll get the fire going,” Zachary said and started toward the fire pit.

Matthew grabbed his arm. “I got it. You put some clothes on first.”

“Don’t worry. You dry off and change into something dry.” Zachary didn’t argue. He hurried over, grabbed the flint from the ground, quickly got the fire going, and piled on more wood.

The cave lit up. Under the dull yellow glow, Matthew was soaked from head to toe. His lips were paler than usual.

Zachary urged him to get inside and change, then put the mushroom meat soup with raisins and dried cranberries from last night on the fire to warm up.

When Matthew came out, he saw Zachary busy by the fire. He handed over his clothes. “Here. Put these on.”

“Oh, okay.” Zachary draped the clothes over him and pressed him down near the fire.

Matthew stared at the side of his face. “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

He doesn’t look like he just woke up. Could he be waiting for me?

He thought about it for a second and finally asked.

“Couldn’t sleep.” Zachary stirred the soup slowly. “It’s pouring out there.”

Matthew pulled out something wrapped in layers.

Zachary unwrapped it to find a big chunk of honey. Perfect, no rain had touched it.

Suddenly, his chest warmed like the steam rising from the soup. He blinked, and a pang of something bittersweet hit him. “Did the stingtail beast get you?”

“No.”

“Liar.” Zachary grabbed his hand and pointed to several red dots on the back. “Then what’s this?”

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Chapter 45 Waiting for Him to Come Back

Matthew smiled. “I didn’t notice.”

Zachary ladled a full bowl of soup and handed it to him. “Drink it while it’s warm”

Matthew’s gaze flicked down, and his brows knit slightly. “What happened to your leg?”

Zachary liked sleeping in shorts, and the robe hadn’t been wrapped tightly. When he shifted a little, the bruised knee showed.

He didn’t care. “Just tripped earlier. It’s fine.”

“Did you get Mr. Bruce to give you medicine?” Matthew asked.

“It’s just a little scrape.” Zachary smiled and patted his arm. “Look at you. Between the two of us, who’s worse off? Drink this while it’s warm. Don’t catch a cold.”

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Transmigrated to Raise Panther Cubs