110 Final Chapter

Hu Yetao was in no state to fully appreciate its beauty though; besides the stabbing pain, he also felt hot and dizzy as Oscar carefully laid him out on the thick pile of furs.

"Hold on Hu Yetao," Oscar murmured, sounding distressed. It was just the two of them now as Xiaocheng and Shui Xian were not allowed to enter the birthing room. Oscar would not be in his right mind and could lash out if there were too many people around his suffering mate - regardless of whether they were family or not. "Zheng will be here any second and the pain will stop."

Hu Yetao squeezed onto his hand as though it was a lifeline, emitting another helpless cry as the pain overwhelmed him.

Oscar swallowed thickly and turned sharply when Niào suddenly appeared with the Clan Healer, Zheng, in tow.

"What took you so long?" Oscar snapped furiously.

Niào's large ears drooped with guilt before she left the room, quietly closing the door behind her.

"Let me help Oscar," Zheng said in her faint Korean lilt, knowing just how to handle an Alpha Nundu in this situation.

Hu Yetao looked up at her through stinging eyes as she slowly approached the side of the platform. She was tall, with Auburn hair that shone red in the firelight. She had hazel eyes and lots of freckles and gave such an aura of self-assuredness that Hu Yetao felt instant relief at her presence, even though this was only the second time they'd met.

"Hello Hu Yetao," she greeted, holding his gaze as she set down a worn canvas bag full of supplies and carefully extracted a glass vial full of blue liquid. "I need you to drink this for me; it will give your magic a much-needed boost."

Hu Yetao writhed on the furs, not wanting to take his hands away from his stomach.

Oscar quickly took the vial from her and held it to Hu Yetao's lips. "Drink this Hu Yetao," he instructed firmly, placing a hand on Hu Yetao's shoulder to keep him from turning away.

Hu Yetao clenched his eyes shut but obediently opened his mouth and drank the syrupy potion when the glass was pressed to his lips, the thick liquid dripping thickly down his throat.

"Oscar," Zheng said proficiently, taking the empty vial back from him once Hu Yetao had drunk every last drop. "I need you to remove his clothing for me."

Oscar's eyes flared with outrage for a moment, clearly not wanting anyone else to see his mate's naked form, but it only lasted for a second, and then he swallowed and nodded in compliance.

Oscar withdrew his wand and quickly vanished every stitch of Hu Yetao's clothing; leaving his mate completely nude.

Hu Yetao barely acknowledged the spell; he was in too much pain to care about how exposed he was to an almost stranger.

"Good Oscar," Zheng murmured as she swiftly prepared some more potions and raised her wand. "Now, I need you to sit with Hu Yetao and concentrate on lending him your strength and magic through the bond as much as you can."

Oscar nodded and carefully climbed onto the platform, gently sliding Hu Yetao's upper body into his lap and resting his fingers over the Claiming Mark.

Hu Yetao whimpered and just wanted it to be over with. He didn't think he could take much more.

Zheng muttered spells under her breath while pouring thick topical potions over Hu Yetao's stomach and then dabbing some of the liquid onto the center of his forehead, over his heart, and the bottoms of his feet. She finished and then stepped back to withdraw her wand.

Hu Yetao struggled to stay still. He looked up at Oscar pleadingly and gripped his hand as he let out an involuntary cry of pain, trying to choke it back so that he didn't distress his Alpha, but it was so hard to stay quiet when it felt like he was being ripped apart from the inside.

Oscar bent forward and kissed his sweaty forehead, expression concentrated as he forced his magic through their bond; the buzz of what felt like tiny electric currents running from Oscar's fingertips to flood Hu Yetao's body.

Hu Yetao followed his mate's gaze when Oscar glanced at the Healer and his eyes suddenly filled with what looked like barely controlled anger. At a glance, Hu Yetao realized that Zheng was raising her wand above his potion-coated stomach to make the first incision.

Hu Yetao's gaze quickly flew back to Oscar's face, not wanting to watch Zheng split him open. He knew he wouldn't feel it because of the numbing potion but he didn't think he could watch.

Oscar locked his gaze with Hu Yetao's and held steady.

It felt as though they both needed the other's support to get through this; not just the Omega needing his Alpha, but Oscar needing Hu Yetao to keep him grounded too.

Hu Yetao felt a warm, tingly sensation over his stomach and knew Zheng was casting the first spell. He gasped as the pain seemed to ratchet up a notch.

Hu Yetao tried to breathe through it, his vision blurring around the edges as the room swam in and out of focus. He concentrated on Oscar, holding his gaze as he felt his Alpha's strength and magic still leaking into him. He tried to concentrate on that feeling, to encourage it and welcome it, knowing he needed the support to make it through, but it was so hard to focus beyond his suffering.

And then, Hu Yetao unexpectedly felt as though all the blood in his head had drained away. His eyes slowly drifted closed and there was an odd sensation of falling. The sharp, intense pain began to just float away…

He breathed a tiny sigh of relief as he was finally released from the grip of that relentless agony. He could faintly hear Zheng shouting something to Oscar but couldn't understand the words as they passed over his head.

He felt warm breath on his ear and Oscar was there, whispering fervently. He couldn't comprehend the words but the feeling behind them was clear: love and compassion and encouragement.

The warm breath moved down the side of his neck and his senses were snapped back to full alertness when his Alpha suddenly bit down over his Claiming Mark, piercing the skin and jolting Hu Yetao back to the present.

Suddenly everything flooded back in as though someone had turned up the volume, sending his senses into overdrive, and Hu Yetao cried out, trying to writhe away from whatever was hurting him.

Oscar soothingly kissed his neck and then his cheek, whispering in his ear while his grip on Hu Yetao's hand tightened; the magic passing between them intensifying with Oscar's palpable determination.

Hu Yetao gulped in a shuddering breath and held on with everything he had. He didn't want to fall into that floaty world again where there was no pain because he knew that wasn't a good place to be.

He eventually opened his eyes and Oscar exhaled in relief.

Then, without warning, the intense pain all but disappeared; the abrupt cessation causing the breath to catch in Hu Yetao's throat.

After a moment of bewilderment, a faint crying could be heard in the cavernous room, echoing off the walls.

The sound seemed to focus him again, reminding Hu Yetao of what he was there for and why he'd gone through all that suffering.

He looked down and his heart skipped a beat when he saw Zheng cradling a very small baby in one arm. She deftly used her wand to clean him and sever the umbilical cord in quick efficient strokes.

Hu Yetao was stunned into silence, and he couldn't stop staring; nothing else seemed to matter now that he'd laid eyes on his tiny son.

"Is he all right?" Oscar asked from above, voice tight with concern.

Zheng smiled reassuringly as she conjured a soft plaid blanket and bundled him into it. "He's fine Oscar; very healthy." She slowly moved towards the two new fathers and held the bundle out to Oscar. "Meet your new baby."

Harry felt his heart swell with emotion as Oscar gathered their newborn son into his arms and carefully pulled him in tight to his chest, gazing in wonderment at his little face, which was flushed from crying. Hu Yetao knew Alpha Nundu needed to hold their newborn children as soon as possible to learn their scent and imprint on them in return. Shui Xian had warned him about that particular trait so that he wouldn't be offended when he wasn't the first to hold their baby.

Zheng smiled and then quietly returned to healing Hu Yetao's stomach as Oscar leaned down to inhale the scent of his son, his eyes wide and in awe. The baby stopped crying and snuffled in surprise at the strange touch of Oscar's nose against his sensitive skin and then the touch of his lips as Oscar softly kissed the top of his small head.

Oscar smiled and reclined back on the bed, shifting the baby towards Hu Yetao so that he was in between the two of them.

Hu Yetao tentatively reached out to touch his tiny hand, swallowing thickly as he gazed into his son's eyes for the first time. They were a beautiful clear blue (for the moment), and his head was topped with fine, blond hair.

Hu Yetao smiled; completely enraptured. He was perfect.

Zheng stepped back after finishing up with Hu Yetao and then cleaned the surrounding furs on the platform, which had become covered in blood and other fluids during the cesarean. She then flicked her wand once and Hu Yetao was suddenly dressed in soft, loose pajamas.

She sheathed her wand and then began to pack her medical bag, keeping her distance from the new family. Oscar would be feeling quite protective for a time and she didn't want to overstep her boundaries and upset him.

"Have a name yet gentlemen?" she asked quietly as she placed the empty vials back in her bag.

Hu Yetao glanced up, blinking away tears. "Lì yǎ mǔ" he replied softly.

Oscar cleared his throat, still gazing at his son. "Lì yâ mû," he elaborated, and then glanced up at the Healer. "Named after a man who did a lot for Hu Yetao and me during the war."

Zheng nodded. "Lí yâ mû," she repeated with a gentle smile. "I like it."

Oscar smiled and turned back to his tiny son, who now appeared to be falling asleep in his arms.

"Lí yâ mû," Hu Yetao murmured.

Oscar kissed his cheek and Hu Yetao smiled back at him, feeling dazed and exhausted, but happy.

"We did it," Hu Yetao suddenly uttered in amazement.

Oscar and Zheng both chuckled at the look of disbelief on Hu Yetao's face.

"Oscar?" Zheng spoke up, waiting for Oscar to make eye contact before continuing. "Hu Yetao is not to move around too much for the next two weeks, and if you can carry him everywhere for the next twenty-four hours, that would be best. His stomach is healed but he will be sore for a while and there is a chance for complications if he pushes things too soon. I will leave some potions with Níao to bring to him three times a day for the next seven days." Oscar nodded and she glanced at Hu Yetao as she closed her bag. "You're my first male Omega delivery Hu Yetao, and I don't mind saying that you gave me a fright for a moment there," she said with a wry grin. "Luckily you have a great bond with your Alpha so everything turned out fine."

"Congratulations," Hu Yetao responded before yawning.

Zheng laughed. "I think you'd better sleep now. I will come back for a couple of check-ins but I don't foresee any problems with you or Lí yà mú."

"Thank you," Hu Yetao murmured sleepily as he snuggled into Oscar's side, keeping one hand clasped around his son.

"I'll let your parents know that everything went fine Oscar and that they will see you when you're ready," Zheng said, gazing silently at the new family for a moment before quietly slipping out the door.

Oscar adjusted his position a little more comfortably on the furs so that he could slip an arm around his mate's shoulders.

"Don't go anywhere while I'm sleeping," Hu Yetao instructed before he could allow himself to drift off.

"I won't, I promise," Oscar replied with a kiss to the top of his head. "You did so well Hu Yetao, you should rest now. I'll watch over Lí yà mú while you're sleeping."

Hu Yetao smiled contentedly as he swiftly fell asleep.

Hu Yetao closed his eyes and turned his face up towards the sun as he reclined back on the chaise lounge, the heat of the bright beams warming his skin.

.......

A quiet gurgle caused him to open his eyes and look down at his son. Lí yà mú was wrapped in a soft white blanket and cradled in his arms, a spot of drool dribbling down his chin as he squirmed a little. He was not a baby who liked to stay still, and he was only a week old.

"Want me to take him?" Oscar asked as he set down some tea next to his mate and sat in the adjacent chair. The question was directed at Hu Yetao but his affectionate gaze was glued to Lí yà mú.

Hu Yetao smiled and shook his head. "No, he's fine, he'll drop off again in a second. Thanks," he said, reaching out with one hand for the tea.

Oscar stretched out on his chair with a sigh, closing his eyes and enjoying the pleasant warmth of the August sun as much as his mate. They were both fairly exhausted after a week's worth of scattered sleep.

"So," he said casually, "made any definitive decisions yet?"

Hu Yetao sighed as he absently watched Lí yà mú's eyes flutter closed, despite his best intentions. "No not yet, but this wonderful sunshine is making me think that somewhere with lovely warm beaches would be nice."

Oscar smiled, eyes still closed. "Fewer Clans in warmer climates too; we like the cooler temperatures."

Hu Yetao glanced over. "That could be a plus," he said thoughtfully and then frowned. "But then you don't want it warm either."

Oscar opened his eyes and turned his head to look at his mate. "I want to be where we're not going to be disturbed, so I would put up with it if I had to."

"Hmm..." Hu Yetao hummed in thought. "Maybe I'll look at Newfoundland again, there aren't any Clans there and it certainly isn't hot."

"And it isn't too far from home."

Hu Yetao grinned at him. "Yeah, there is that too."

Oscar smiled and reached out to touch his cheek. "We don't have to make any decisions today Hu Yetao, my parents are quite agreeable for us to live here with them indefinitely."

Hu Yetao chuckled and looked down at his sleeping son, knowing all too well how much Shui Xian loved having her first grandchild in the house with them. Even Xiaocheng was showing a tender side that Hu Yetao had never seen before; he dearly loved his new grandson.

"I know," Hu Yetao replied. "Plus, wherever we go won't be for forever, one day we'll return home again."

Oscar smiled and closed his eyes once more, settling more comfortably into his chair. "Wake me if you need me to take him."

...

Hu Yetao turned to look out at the beautiful grounds of the Manor, taking the opportunity to enjoy the silence and the relaxation. Everything was in bloom, the sun was shining and the peacocks were out in full force. The very weather and gardens gave an air of new beginnings and endless possibilities.

Hu Yetao looked down at his son and smiled, he couldn't wait to see what the future would hold for their resilient little family.

THE END

Note: Should I write an epilogue? I wrote this book years ago and I felt it didn't need an epilogue because the ending explains it all that they lived happily ever after.