Chapter 61

"Are you sure you're ready for this?"

Hu Yetao took a deep breath and slowly released it, his mate's concerned gaze locked on his expression, probably searching for the tiniest flicker of doubt to keep Hu Yetao safely locked away in the Manor for another day or two.

It had been a wonderful few days with nothing to do but enjoy each other's company and allow his body and mind to heal. Hu Yetao had felt as though he'd been able to push the pause button and finally catch his breath. The time with Oscar's parents had also improved his relationship with them, especially with Xiaocheng, who felt protective of his son's mate in a way Hu Yetao never would have thought possible given their history.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," he replied, trying to ignore the heavyweight of dread in his stomach. "Let's go."

Oscar nodded and took his arm before Disapparating the two of them from the Manor and back to Hogwarts.

Returning to the 'scene of the crime' wasn't an issue because Hogwarts was the scene of many crimes for Hu Yetao, but he was reluctant to return because it would also mean the return of all his troubles; namely what Zhang Xinyao and Jing-Long would have to say about the recent attack on him. He was sure they would somehow blame Oscar and he wasn't eager to suffer through that argument again. He was tired of defending his mate and his choices to his best friends; they were supposed to be pillars of support in his life, not the cause for added stress.

Oscar slid an arm around his shoulders as they walked up the snowy track together in silence, his thumb absently stroking over the claimed mark on Hu Yetao's neck.

Hu Yetao's tense expression softened slightly at the gentle contact. His scar was healing nicely; it was still an angry-looking red but smooth to the touch. In another week or two, he knew it would settle into a silvery-white sheen.

Hu Yetao leaned into his mate with a sigh, absently watching the tiny sporadic snowflakes fluttering down from the grey sky above as they approached the front of the school. He was just pondering what his Christmas plans might consist of this year when Oscar suddenly jerked to a stop, a low growl emanating from his lips.

Hu Yetao followed his gaze to see Zhou Keyu striding down the wide stone steps towards them, wand in hand, dark brows drawn into a forceful glare.

Oscar subtly placed his body in front of Hu Yetao as he withdrew his wand and watched his housemate approach with narrowed eyes, posture rigid and uneasy.

Hu Yetao swallowed and allowed his mate to stand in front of him; knowing that Oscar's Alpha and Nundu natures compelled protective responses like this, and without his wand, Hu Yetao probably wasn't much use if it came down to a fight anyway.

Zhou Keyu came to a stop in front of them, eyes flicking briefly to Hu Yetao before settling on Oscar. "You've crossed the line this time Oscar," he said with a hard unforgiving edge to his voice.

"What are you on about Keyu?" Oscar drawled, tone light but body tensed for a fight.

"You allowed your mate - an extremely prized and sought-after male Omega - to go out alone and very nearly get killed!" Zhou Keyu spat accusingly.

Hu Yetao instantly felt his temper flare in defense. "He didn't know I'd left the castle," he snapped, taking a step out from behind his mate to stand shoulder to shoulder with Oscar. "I snuck out on my own and told him I'd be in Gryffindor Tower. It wasn't his fault I was attacked - it was mine."

Zhou Keyu's eyes narrowed. "A decent Alpha would've known you'd left the castle because he would have claimed you ages ago!"

Hu Yetao's hands balled into fists as he tried to restrain himself from leaping at the impertinent Alpha. "I didn't want to be claimed," he retorted. "I was the one who made us wait until I felt ready - which had nothing to do with me not wanting to be with Oscar and everything to do with me not being used to Alphas and Omegas." He raised his chin defiantly. "A detail which we have now rectified by the way."

Zhou Keyu blinked in surprise at the mark on Hu Yetao's neck but quickly regained his anger as he turned back to Oscar. "Even so, you can't handle Hu Yetao on your own Oscar. Admit it, you're not up to the challenge and you need another Alpha to pick up the slack."

Hu Yetao opened his mouth furiously. "That is fucking insulting Zhou Keyu - to both of us!"

Oscar calmly sheathed his wand and crossed his arms over his chest. "It doesn't appear as though Hu Yetao is interested in your offer Keyu, and by continuing this line of discussion, you're only doing more harm than good."

Zhou Keyu seemed to pause at that, some of the anger fading from the taut lines of his body, and Hu Yetao suddenly realized why Oscar hadn't said anything thus far; he'd been allowing Keyu to spout off and engage Hu Yetao's temper, placing himself firmly in Hu Yetao's bad books and demonstrating what an incompatible mate he would be for the Boy-Who-Lived.

Hu Yetao hid a smirk of amusement at his cunning Slytherin mate.

"Hu Yetao, why don't you head into the castle and I'll meet you in Mrs. Amber's office?" Oscar suggested, turning to him.

Hu Yetao frowned. "Why? What are you doing?" he asked suspiciously, not wanting to leave Oscar on his own.

"I would like to have a word with Keyu before I join you," he explained with a glance towards his wary housemate.

"But we're not finished here," Keyu interrupted a note of uncertainty creeping into his voice.

Oscar straightened and faced Keyu with a stony expression. "Hu Yetao has no intention of accepting you, so he has nothing more to say and you cannot have anything more to add to this pointless conversation. You and I, on the other hand," he added with the hint of a threat, "need to resolve this matter once and for all. Without magic," he added, eyeing the way Keyu's wand hand had twitched by his side.

"What do you mean without magic?" Keyu scoffed, trying to regain some lost ground. "Are you proposing a fistfight, Oscar?"

Oscar sneered. "No Keyu, we are going to have a civilized discussion like the good little Purebloods we are."

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Hu Yetao spoke up, touching Oscar's arm to get his attention.

Oscar turned to him and his sneer relaxed into an affectionate smirk. "Of course, Keyu and I will be the very definition of gentlemen," he said, then raised his voice slightly, "particularly because he knows how much you detest violence and dominant Alpha behavior."