76 Chapter 75

They soared through the air and cleared the little hedge with room to spare, the powdery snow whooshing out behind them in a white sparkly trail as they flew over the top.

Oscar landed with a thud and kept going without losing even a fraction of his momentum.

Hu Yetao buried his chin in the soft fur, keeping his eyes peering out between Oscar's blond ears to see where they were going.

Oscar pounded up the path between the hedges, which gradually began to increase in height the further into the garden they progressed.

Oscar rounded a corner into what appeared to be a central courtyard in the middle of the elaborate gardens. He immediately began to slacken his pace until he was moving at an easy walk, breath still coming out in rapid pants, ribs expanding and contracting between Hu Yetao's legs, as he recovered his breath from the mad gallop.

Hu Yetao sat up, finding the slower gait a lot harder to balance with, as Oscar's shoulder blades pushed up prominently with each step and awkwardly tipped Hu Yetao from side to side.

Hu Yetao lay forward on his stomach and wrapped his arms around Oscar's broad neck, effectively hugging him to help keep him stable. He smiled and simply enjoyed the soft prowling stride of his mate as he carried him to the glass gazebo located in the center of a massive circle of rose bushes. The roses weren't in bloom but the gardens were still beautiful. They had a wintery appeal to them that Hu Yetao had always rather enjoyed as it reminded him of the upcoming holidays. It was nearly November and Christmas wouldn't be far off now.

Oscar nudged open the narrow glass doors with his broad forehead and walked inside the gazebo.

Hu Yetao looked around with interest as he was enveloped in sudden heat. "Is there a constant warming charm on your gazebo?" he asked incredulously. Oscar's pricked ears swiveled back to listen to him. "That's pretty fucking pretentious Master Wang."

Oscar huffed and then abruptly reared up so that Hu Yetao slipped backward off of his back.

Hu Yetao was caught by surprise but managed to land on his feet, only stumbling a little.

Oscar turned his head to look back at him over his shoulder, and again Hu Yetao was struck by the very clear smirk on the feline face. He also looked rather smug.

He rolled his eyes but couldn't help smiling fondly as he leisurely strolled around Oscar, taking the opportunity to look at his mate in his Nundu form. Residing at Hogwarts meant that it wasn't often he had the opportunity to see it.

Hu Yetao laughed at the clear bemusement in Oscar's brown eyes. "I'm just checking to see what separates you from another Nundu - so I don't accidentally ride the wrong one," he added teasingly.

Oscar let loose a low warning growl and Hu Yetao grinned.

Hu Yetao continued moving around his mate, looking him over but not finding anything that stood out. Oscar shifted restlessly under his gaze.

Hu Yetao crossed his arms over his chest with a frown, frustrated. He wanted to be able to tell which Nundu was his mate from a distance.

Oscar suddenly lay down and turned over onto his back.

"Er… you want me to scratch your belly?" Hu Yetao asked him, equal parts perturbed and amused.

Then he noticed it; a very thin blue zig-zagging line which ran back and forth across Oscar's stomach and ribs, right up to the base of his neck.

Hu Yetao slowly crouched down and reached out to touch the blue fur. It almost looked like the remnants of a scar amongst the dark blue and black of his coat.

Hu Yetao's eyes suddenly widened as comprehension dawned; this was Oscar's Sectumsempra scar - from Hu Yetao's hand. It wasn't noticeable in Oscar's human form though, Hu Yetao was sure of that, he'd purposefully looked for it the first time he'd ever seen Oscar bare-chested.

Hu Yetao looked up with wide, horrified eyes. "Is… is that from me?" he asked, appalled.

Oscar moved his front leg under Hu Yetao's gaze and on the underside was more white fur.

"The Dark Mark…" Hu Yetao murmured in understanding. "But all the Marks disappeared when Chong Li died, and these scars don't show when you're in human form. I don't understand…"

In a flash, Oscar had transformed back into his human form and sat up, his body covered by clothing once more. "Any damage was done by magic to a Nundu - regardless of what form they're in at the time - will forever mark their body," he explained. "We are very sensitive to magic. And don't you dare go blaming yourself for that scar Taotao."

Hu Yetao scoffed. "But it is my fault," he replied instantly. "My moment of complete idiocy has scarred you for life."

Oscar shook his head. "Please let's not go over how you almost killed me, because some of my more foolish decisions could've resulted in your death as well. We both have regrets but at least we lived to tell the tale." He reached out and cupped Hu Yetao's cool cheek in his hand before leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. "I love you, and you're going to be the father of my children, I believe that more than makes up for you nearly murdering me."

Hu Yetao smiled faintly as he wrapped one hand around Oscar's wrist; he still felt guilty for acting so rashly. Normally his impulsive, unthinking actions only had consequences for himself and not for others.

"Hu Yetao," Oscar said sternly. "I know you have a guilt complex the size of China but you have to be sensible about this. Think about it this way," he tried when Hu Yetao didn't say anything. "You are the only male Omega that we know of in existence right now, and you chose me -out of every male Alpha in the world. You've given me a life I never thought I'd have; which still seems so completely surreal to me that at times I nearly resort to pinching myself."

Hu Yetao was astounded by Oscar's frankness; he hardly ever spoke of his feelings openly and sentimentally like that.

"Not that I'm groveling at your feet Taotao," he was quick to add. "I am quite the catch as well."

Hu Yetao laughed and tackled his mate to the ground. "And so modest too," he said, leaning over Oscar with a grin. He pressed a chaste kiss to his smirking lips before crossing his arms over Oscar's chest and dropping his chin down to rest on top. He gazed back at his mate as Oscar began to absently card one hand through Hu Yetao's windblown hair. "Are you jealous of Professor Mika?" Hu Yetao finally asked, lips pressed into the woolly fabric of his jumper. He knew jealousy wasn't the problem but he thought it might elicit a truthful response.

Oscar snorted and moved his hand out of Hu Yetao's hair to flick him on the nose.

"Ow!"

"Don't be daft Taotao," he replied glibly.

"Why do you dislike him then?" Hu Yetao challenged, rubbing his nose.

Oscar sighed and stared up at the glass ceiling above them. "I don't dislike him, I just…"

"Don't think he's necessary?"

Oscar frowned. "I think the more people looking out for you the better, but I don't want him becoming… possessive of you."

Hu Yetao blinked. "Possessive? He wouldn't become possessive of me - he's straight."

Oscar rolled his eyes before giving Hu Yetao a look of derision. "You are so naïve Taotao. Just because he has a wife and children, does not make him straight. He's Nundu, it's in his blood to procreate, remember?" Oscar's gaze slipped away to stare broodingly at the ceiling.

Hu Yetao sat up, straddling Oscar's hips, and stared down at him reproachfully. "And just because he may turn into an interesting Alpha because he's helping to protect me, that still won't change my mind about how many mates I want. I do have a little choice in the matter, you know. So no more talk of adding mates - because it's just not going to happen. I'm afraid you're stuck with only me for the company for the rest of your life Oscar."

Oscar sat up, arms sliding around Hu Yetao's waist to hold him steady. "That sentiment would have given my fourteen-year-old self nightmares Taotao."

Hu Yetao smiled; Oscar's tone may have been indifferent but the relief was clear in his eyes. It looked as though Hu Yetao would have to keep reminding Oscar that he only wanted one mate until it eventually sunk into that thick Alpha head of his.

"If you're so concerned about my flightiness then perhaps you should marry me?" Hu Yetao countered mischievously.

Oscar snorted and pushed him off of his lap before standing and extending a hand down. "Don't be a tosser."

Hu Yetao laughed as Oscar helped him to his feet. Well, now he knew where Oscar stood on the whole marriage thing.

"Do you mind if we just walk back?" Hu Yetao asked as they headed for the glass doors, the windows of which were now opaque with steam.

"Not fond of my mad dash through the snow?" Oscar asked as they walked out into the cold evening and began to make their way through the rows of rosebushes.

Hu Yetao smiled, looking at the ground. "No, that was fun, rather like riding Buckbeak."

He laughed when Oscar visibly shuddered.

"I'm just not in a hurry to return to Hogwarts."

"Oh?"

Hu Yetao sighed, his warm breath coming out in a white cloud to hang in the icy air. "I almost feel like the safest place for me to be is right here." He glanced up, gaze resting on the massive Manor, lights flickering warmly in the windows as the sun slowly set. "I don't even know what I want to do now that I'm not focused on becoming an Auror. I don't know what classes I need high marks in - or if I even need to finish school…" He trailed off and kicked at some of the loose gravel mixed in with the snow. "My concentration this year has just been utter crap with everything that's been going on, so I probably won't pass half my classes anyway."

Oscar slanted a glance at him as they exited the gardens and walked across the snow-covered grounds. "More so than previous years?" he asked with a raised brow.

Hu Yetao smiled reluctantly; his mate had a point. "I suppose not. At least I don't have Chong Li inside my head this year." He shrugged and faced front again. "I dunno, I'm just really tired, and staying here with you and your parents just seems so… easy. I… I'm just tired, I guess."

Oscar pulled Hu Yetao in against his side in silent support.

Hu Yetao shook himself; he was supposed to be comforting Oscar and easing his stress, not adding to it with his trivial woes. "I have a question for you," he said abruptly, veering off-topic.

"Mmm?"

"When you're in your Nundu form - do you still find me attractive?"

Oscar let out a bark of laughter that was most unlike him, before settling his expression into his usual smirk, eyes glittering with mirth.

"Well?" Hu Yetao pushed, grinning.

"I would have to say… I don't think about that particular aspect when I'm in that form. All that's running through my mind when I look at you is mine, mine, mine, and that I must protect you at all costs because danger could be lurking around every corner."

Hu Yetao chuckled and shook his head. "So you're you, but not quite in the same frame of mind as when you're human?"

Oscar nodded. "Yes, not quite as rational I suppose." He glanced over. "Do you find me attractive in my Nundu form?"

Hu Yetao grinned at the ground. "I think you're bloody gorgeous in your Nundu form - but do I want to shag your brains out when I look at you like a cat? No, I would have to say not."

Oscar chuckled.

"I would like to practice transforming into an Animagus form," Hu Yetao mentioned casually. "Like Professor Mika suggested. It may also be a clever way to avoid being recognized by my attackers. You wouldn't eat me though, would you?" he added as an after-thought.

Oscar laughed as they both approached the front of the Manor. "No matter what shape you're in Hu Yetao, you're still my mate. Even if your Animagus form is a mouse."

Hu Yetao grinned. "Wouldn't that be ironic? Cat and mouse."

"Very fitting for the two of us," Oscar replied deprecatingly.

The front doors opened and Hu Yetao spotted Oscar's parents, along with Professor Mika, standing and conversing quietly in the open doorway next to two male house-elves who each held a door open.

Oscar gently pulled back on Hu Yetao's arm, delaying him a moment. "It... it means a lot to me to hear you say that you feel safe here, with my parents and me." He swallowed, gaze skittering from Hu Yetao's face, to his parents, to the ground, and then back to Hu Yetao's face again, cheeks flushing slightly.

Hu Yetao smiled warmly at his mate,heart-swelling as he realized not only was Oscar right; Hu Yetao did feel safe with the Wangs, he also found that he was coming to rather enjoy their company.

"It's true," he replied sincerely. "I know they care about me now, even if it's just out of love for you, but I... I feel like I'm part of a family. For the first time in my entire life," he added, realizing – somewhat incredulously – that it was true.

The Zhang's had always been warm and welcoming to him, but he'd never actually felt like he was a part of the close-knit Zhang unit, more like a temporary foster brother.

Oscar held his gaze as he squeezed his arm once before letting go. "Shall we?"

Hu Yetao took a deep breath and slipped his hand into his Alpha's. He looked up at Xiaocheng and Shui Xian, who were now watching them, and Professor Mika who had a generous smile on his face as he waited for his pupils.

"Yeah, I'm ready."