Re-edited!

W.I.S (What's In Store): AU. Alpha/Beta/Omega dynamics. Non-bending. GORE. Werewolves. Pack mentality. Genderbent Azula/Ty-Lee. Shameful/Shameless Nudity. M-PREG!

I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender!

Feral: Revisited

I

Waking with a rasping gasp, Zuko runs a shaky hand through sweat soaked hair, it had begun: the erratic beating of his heart, the intense heat flowing throughout his body, the soreness of his muscles, and the unbelievably and unwelcomed dryness in his mouth . . . he was beginning his fever cycle. Smacking his lips, he rises and splits from his luxurious bed, a bed decorated with silken red sheets and gold embroidering, and exits his room where he begins quietly padding through the suffocating dark in search of a glass of water to quench this unbearable feel of his mouth. The young child not needing a light for he knew his large and exquisite home like the back of his hand, and the added perk of his night vision being a wonderful bonus to his nighttime navigation.

Wandering through the extensive corridors of the West Manor alone often left Zuko feeling more than a little overwhelmed, his senses always heightened and left him floundering as he tries to determine a certain sound's origin, or wondering if he really could smell that subtle scent floating in the air of it was his imagination. Once, he'd asked his mother if there was something wrong with him, to which the kindly woman had gently assured him that nothing was wrong and began to explain that he was still young, and therefore his senses were still developing not to mention that it was a survival mechanism. He was thankful for his mother's constant support, he truly was. He'd been most grateful for his mother's calming presence when he learned that he was an Omega . . . now he had heard that Omegas were special, that they were rare and mostly male , that they held a certain kind of power and influence over the other ranks.

Being something special, rare, something that held power even over an Alpha of all things, Zuko had hoped that it would lessen the disappointment he saw in his father's eyes every time the man so much as looked in his direction, of course, he'd been very, very wrong. The disappointment which had been harmless, if a little hurtful, turned into disgust, and disgust had turned to . . . turned to what had given him the scar that marred his youthful face.

Muffled voices bring him from his troubling thoughts and distract him from his burdensome feelings. The thirteen year old boy freezes in his tracks, eyes wide and body taut, he remains silent, hoping to hear it again. When nothing further happens, he continues walking, this time at a pace quicker than the one he had set before. A few seconds later though, he hears the garbled speech once again, this time the voices are louder. Stilling yet again, Zuko knows that if he were to have his tail at that very moment, it would be tucked between his legs. Of course, like any other child his age, he manages to spook himself, his brain reminding him of the vengeful specters and hideous monsters in uncle's tales, as well as Azulon's whispered rumors of their large den being haunted, oh if his brother saw him now, the younger boy would tease him relentlessly for months on end. With that cozy little thought in his mind, Zuko gulps down the choking fear and trepidation building in his throat and soldiers on.

Every now and then, the sounds will pick up, grow in volume, then cease at random intervals, although each time they began, it seemed as though they were getting louder in general, as though he were nearing the source . . . up ahead, he spots the door to his father's office cracked open a small smidge with a sliver of light pooling from the small opening. Fear forces the young Omega to stop and listen in:

"I don't see how he's any different than Azulon."

"Mother?" Zuko mouths, the fear ebbing away and giving to curiosity.

"He's an Omega, Ursa. You know what they are. What they're meant for."

"That doesn't excuse your actions towards him! If I can accept and love him all the same, then why can't you!?"

"Because he is weak!"

"He is not weak!" Ursa snarls in a manner Zuko had never heard from his mother, vicious and uncivil, "What is it with you and power?!" she spits the word power like it were poison, "You're hunger for power has done nothing but increase the hatred between our kind and the humans, and it is because of your insatiable lust for power that you have turned Azulon against his own brother!" she seethes, "It is only a matter of time before your bloodlust brings an end to us!"

"We were meant to rule! The sooner those pathetic humans realize this, the sooner this ceaseless bloodshed will end! Until then, I cannot sire weak pups!" Ozai roars causing Zuko to flinch and wonder how his mother could stand before the angered man so bravely. "Azulon is an Alpha, an Alpha cannot be weak! I couldn't let him turn soft like you'd done with Zuko! I need a worthy heir!"

"Just because Zuko is an Omega does not mean he has to be weak! He can be just as strong as any Alpha!"

"Ursa!" Ozai snaps at wits end, "An Omega is good for absolutely nothing except breeding! They have no place in this family! This family that has ruled these lands because we have sired nothing but Alphas!" his voice lowers, face scrunching as if he'd tasted something foul, "That Omega was lucky to be born!"

Gasping, Zuko reels from the doorway with his hands covering his mouth and tears threatening to spill, his heart feeling like it were being squeezed in a vice-like grip, breaking upon what his father really thought of him. The door flies open, Zuko yelps and flails, falling backwards and landing on his bottom. Looking up, he catches the wrinkle of his father's nose as soon as the stoic Alpha catches whiff of the musty scent emanating from the young Omega in droves.

"This is a private discussion." Ozai spits, glaring down at the child in contempt.

Terrified, Zuko looks past his father's legs and into the room where he spies his mother looking at him with a warm smile and an unreadable look in her eyes, she gives him a gentle shooing motion with her hands:

"Go back to bed, Sweetheart."

Zuko stammers out a weak, "Y-Yes mom."

Rising shakily to his feet, his eyes snap back to his father's intimidating figure before he darts off into the darkness and away from his father's all consuming presence . . . once he's within the safety of his own chambers, the fear of his father's gaze dissipates, leaving only the sorrow that said man had inflicted on his poor person. Sniffling, Zuko falls into a cluttered heap beside the door and begins crying.

This is how Ursa finds him, sobbing quietly within the dark room.

More than worried for her son's wellbeing, she gathers him into her warm arms and carries the sorrow laden boy back to the safety of his bed where she readies him for sleep. Running her fingers through her son's mussed hair, she begins to free his raven locks from its bind, she lets his hair fall free and starts to comb her fingers through, setting his hair neatly behind his back. Tucking her son's hair behind his ears, she reaches in to her pocket and pulls out a small white pill; she gingerly grabs her son's hands and cups them as she places the medicine within his palm.

"Love, please take this."

" . . . "

"Zuko, Sweetheart?" Ursa calls gently, "Please say something, I can't help you if I don't know . . . ,"

Zuko cuts her off, "Why does dad hate me?"

The question, although quiet sounds loud within the dark room, stuns the woman into silence, she purses her painted lips and looks to the discreet white pill in her son's palms . . . Ozai had all but made his distaste for Zuko known to all, and with that maddening speech back within the office, Zuko now knows of his discontent as well, if he hadn't been aware of it before. Sighing, she cups her son's cheek and looks him in those big golden eyes, her precious boy.

"I don't know, Sweetheart. I don't know."

"Is it because I'm an Omega?"

"I . . . he was raised with different beliefs of how the world should be." Ursa chooses her words carefully, not wanting Zuko to hate himself for being what he is. "But no matter what others may say, what they may think, or what they may even do. Never forget who you really are."

This earns her a small somber smile from the young boy as he pops the pill in his mouth and promptly swallows the bitter thing, Ursa rises and leaves to gather some water, when she comes back she offers him the cup filled with water. The pup takes it with gently gratuity and washes away the awful taste left behind on his tongue. The world was a cruel place, the battles between the two species tearing apart what little tense peace there had been . . . sometimes she wished that she was back home with her peaceful pack with her two sons at her side.

"What does an Omega even do?" Zuko asks while he hands the cup back, Ursa sets it upon a nearby bedside table, "I know they're rare, but . . . what is their role within a pack?"

"Oh." oh dear. "Well . . . an Omega is a highly prized individual within most packs."

"But now ours."

"There hasn't been a known Omega for years, so I wouldn't know Sweetheart. But I'm sure they'll love you."

Zuko purses his lips at his mother's roundabout way of explaining something he should get, he meets his mom's gaze, "The strongest Alpha is the one who leads the pack, the remaining Alphas wait for their time and take important roles, Betas are the flock and fill smaller inconsequential jobs, but . . . what about an Omega? What does an Omega do within a pack?"

"Omegas . . . since they're rare, everyone will act different than their usual selves. An Omega can influence a lot of people if they're taught right, they have a certain hold on people that will make them want to protect you at all costs. And Omegas can . . . if you meet that special person, if that person is a boy, you need to be careful. Be safe, okay?"

"Why do I need to be careful around other boys? I thought you said they would protect me?"

Oh Ursa knows how she botched this, and while the question is innocent enough it still makes her uncomfortable all the same for it basically has the same caliber of awkwardness that happens when a child asks how babies are made, not only is it uncomfortable, but it would probably scare the boy if she were to explain how things worked between two males . . . and Zuko wasn't really old enough to know of such things, he was still her innocent baby boy. Before she could really formulate a sound enough answer that didn't stray too far from the truth, the sound of the door opening catches the mother and son duo's attention. Within the door stands Iroh, the happy-go-lucky Alpha wearing a far too serious, far too somber expression upon his usually smiling and upbeat face.

"My brother requests your presence, Ursa."

Turning grim at the demand of her presence, she turns to one of her beloved pups and pulls him into one final hug, burying her nose in his silken hair and inhaling his calming scent, she would love to see her sons grow up and grow into themselves, but what she was going to do was for the safety of one of her children.

Ursa whispers into her son's hair, fearing that if she spoke any louder, the tears would start, "I love you, Zuko."

Zuko returns the hug, burying his face into the crook of her shoulder, "I love you too, mom."

Smiling sadly, Ursa pulls away from her son and rises in one fluid motion, as she makes to move past Iroh, she grabs the Alpha's upper arm and forces him to look her in the eyes, she starts to whisper under her breath, so quiet Iroh can scarcely hear:

"Whatever happens . . . no matter what. Please take care of Zuko for me, make sure nothing happens to him. I know Azulon will be safe in his father's care, but Zuko . . . ."

Iroh nods, eyes heavy with understanding, "I'll make sure no harm comes to him."

Nodding her acceptance and knowing that her request would be met as the man knew what it was like to lose a child, she straightens her flowing red gown and smoothes her hair before strolling out of the room, sending her son one last look before closing the door, she begins walking to meet her mate, leaving Iroh to comfort Zuko until he succumbs to a dreamless sleep.

F-E-R-A-L

"Hey, Stupid, wake up."

"Go 'way, Azulon."

"Dad says you better get up or else~." Azulon warns in a singsong tone laced with a taunting undertone, "You don't want to prove to him that you're weaker than you already are~."

"Azulon." Iroh greets, a hard edge to his voice, "What are you doing here?"

Azulon faces the older male, "I was just trying to wake brother up, Uncle Iroh."

Iroh eyes the young Alpha suspiciously before exhaling heavily through his nostrils, "Your father was calling for you."

Azulon's features darken, and for a split second, he looks like the spitting image of Ozai when he was younger, the young boy looks like he wants to say something, but instead, the young Alpha gives him a stiff nod before walking out of the room with an air of arrogance surrounding him. With Azulon gone, Iroh hurries to one of the mahogany dressers and begins rifling through Zuko's wardrobe, succeeding in confusing the young Omega.

"Uncle?" Zuko calls from the safety and warmth of his bed, "What are you doing?"

"Quick. Take a shower."

"Huh?"

"NOW Zuko!"

The sudden rise in his volume scares Zuko into action and he's off like a bullet. Turning back to his task, Iroh finds some clothes bland enough to not give away Zuko's heritage, yet thick enough to ward off the bitter winter chill. Today is the day that both Azulon and Zuko start their young lives without a mother, yet neither knew it yet. Their father, his brother, had killed his own wife . . . his very own mate who had valiantly offered up her own life in turn for her youngest son's wellbeing, but not before taking out the current head of the pack, and now that their only wall of protection was gone, the two brothers were now left to the merciless teachings of their father. Iroh knew Ozai would never reveal the truth of their mother's disappearance, he knew the young Omega wouldn't survive his brother's cruelty, he knew this by simply being forced to watch said man burn his own pup for becoming an Omega, and with his promise to Ursa, he wasn't going to let something like that ever happen again, not while he lived and breathed, he was going to take Zuko under his wing and treat him like he were his own.

Going to the closets, he picks out a heavy jacket and hurriedly makes his way towards the bathroom the young West would undoubtedly be using. Rapping his knuckles upon the glossy wooden door, he listens to the other side where he can hear the water splattering against the porcelain of the large shower:

"Prince Zuko, you must hurry."

The faucet shuts off, "I just need to dry off!"

Gritting his teeth, and with an excessive amount of strength, Iroh pushes the door open, splintering the wood, he hears Zuko's surprised shout, but its minimal compared to the sound of the wood creaking as its shut once again. Locked for extra measure. Dropping the clothes on the sink, he grabs the nearest towel and yanks Zuko forward, beginning to dry the pup off roughly. As soon as the boy is dried of just enough to not freeze outside, he throws the clothes at Zuko and turns his back on his nephew in order to give him some semblance of privacy. Zuko obeys the silent order by dressing as quickly as he possibly can.

"Done . . . !"

Iroh doesn't let him finish for he lets the beast free from its cage forcing Zuko to take a step back and look on in horrified curiosity as his uncle's form shifts and cracks, remolds itself into a monstrous figure. Zuko watches the large, gray wolf move to the wall, watches as it rears a large fist back and thrust it through the wall, creating a hole in the wall, he does this over and over until the wall crumbles to the wolf's ministrations. The young Omega gulps shortly before he's scooped up within a pair of strong arms.

F-E-R-A-L

"Azulon." Ozai greats coolly, respectfully, the man looks beyond his favored son, expecting to see the Omega. When he doesn't, he looks to the young Alpha. "Where is your brother?"

"He's with Uncle Iroh, father. Uncle had told me that you had called for me."

"Iroh." Ozai snarls, amber eyes reflecting the morning light. "Someone sound the alarms!"

Everything passes by in a blur. Everything is hazy. Everything seems like some sort of dream. All he can feel is the excruciating difference between his uncle's humid beast breathes puffing upon the back of his neck and the biting cold of the winter morning. And the fear. A fear that had bloomed within his chest the second his uncle had jumped from the gap in the wall, landing with a heavy thud that jarred Zuko, shortly before taking off through the pack's extravagant city at the speed of light. All this time, he tries not to let a single sound escape, even as the alarms start to scream accompanied by the roars of the pack, their inner demons having been stirred to life . . . he can even hear the distinct roar of his enraged father.

A fever cycle is different than a heat cycle, a fever cycle is for Omegas younger than 11-14 which is basically a terrible fever and the heat cycle is for matured Omegas which I'm sure we all know.