Werewolves (Wolf Bride)

The Werewolves are creatures of the Wolf Bride series.

History
"Our kind are the army the Earth uses to protect herself from the spread of human corruption. And we are losing. Badly."

- Alpha Werewolf

Werewolves are defenders of the natural world. They protect the last vestiges of earth that are untouched by humankind, and they defend the Primal Magic. They draw their powers from Primal lands, undisturbed by humans. They feel that their role on earth is an honor and not a curse. Through the years, their territories were destroyed, and they have been hunted almost to extinction.

During the full moon, werewolves are closest to the Primal Magic and they forget who and what they are for the night. Except during times of extreme emotion, they can generally control their ability to shift and retain their conscious minds.

Wolf-kin are not shapeshifters and are not werewolves. They are the human families that share blood with werewolves; they are werewolves' cousins and mothers. The only way werewolves breed is by mating with wolf-kin. Matings between two werewolves do not produce young. Werewolves can only be born, and are not "turned" by biting or infecting blood. Wolf-kin do not have any other special abilities. Some who spend time in the Primal lands develop werewolf abilities, but it is exceedingly rare.

Once born, werewolves are generally raised by the Pack since human schools would frown on children turning into puppies during class. Wolf-kin are not required to live with the Pack at the Den and most live in town at Hunt's Peak, but they are allowed if they desire. Since the Pack doesn't use money, most wolf-kin keep part time jobs to support the Pack when they need something.

One generation ago, the Pack was large enough to maintain dens all over the woods around Hunt's Peak. Over time, many wolf-kin left and many Pack members were killed. Currently, there is only one den left.

Myth
The stories of werewolves as vicious monsters are human propaganda, designed to make humans fear the wilderness. Thus, humans stay in cities and are dependent upon technology and industry, the two fields that worsen the human condition.

In Hunt's Peak, they are painted as eco-terrorists trying to stop Sayre Energy and Power from mining.

Lifespan and Characteristics
During the full moon, werewolves become Primal. They rely on animal instincts and generally cannot talk or be reasoned with. Werewolves born on the full moon are born Primal and rarely survive. Those that do have problems.

Appearance
In werewolf form, the werewolves are taller (approximately 9 feet tall) and bigger than their human counterparts. They measure at least eight feet tall and have enormous paws.

Wolf Brides
Wolf Brides are rare once-in-a-generation female wolf-kin who are able to transform into werewolves and retain the ability to bear children. During a full moon, they are able to retain control of their thoughts unlike ordinary werewolves. They are also able to shift easily between human, wolf, and werewolf forms. Wolf-kin who show werewolf abilities state they usually come out during times of stress and danger.

Primal Magic
Primal magic flows through the waters surrounding Hunt's Peak. Primal magic interferes with technology like cell phones and cameras. The heart of Primal magic lies within a sacred cave far from humans.

The Pack
Werewolves live in a social group called the Pack, lead by an Alpha who has the ability to also change Pack law. Historically, only werewolves or those with the power to shift become "one of the Pack". Wolf-kin, including bonded wolf-kin, have no claim on the Pack until they bear pups. This mentality changes when you return to Hunt's Peak, and as you rise in status with the Pack.

In the past and with centuries of tradition, the Pack would desert infants who were born with disabilities. To them, they cannot support a child that will never be self-sufficient. They do not have the ease and comforts of humanity, and it had never been safe for the Pack to raise pups who seemed unlikely to survive. They did not consider what might have happened if those infants could live. This mentality also changes when you become a member of the Pack.

The Bond
Some werewolves are psychically bonded to wolf-kin from childhood. A ceremony called "The Bonding" brings the Bond to the surface.

Knights of Ossory
The Knights of Ossory are an ancient order of werewolf hunters. They originated in Ireland in the 12th Century and have since hunted most major European packs to extinction. In order to escape them, some of the pack fled to America.

Powers and Abilities

 * Therianthropy : the ability to metamorphose into other animals by means of shapeshifting. These werewolves can transform themselves from human to werewolf and to wolf.
 * Werewolf Physiology: the power to use the abilities of a werewolf. This includes:
 * Enhanced Body: Even in human form, werewolves can heal more quickly than humans.
 * Enhanced Agility
 * Enhanced Durability
 * Enhanced Endurance
 * Enhanced Reflexes
 * Enhanced Senses: Their senses are heightened by Primal magic.
 * Night Vision: Even in human form, werewolves can see in the dark with perfect clarity.
 * Enhanced Speed: They are faster than most humans, due to their ties to Primal magic.
 * Enhanced Stamina
 * Enhanced Strength: They are stronger than most humans, due to their ties to Primal magic.

Weaknesses

 * Silver: During a full moon, silver is the only thing that can harm werewolves. During non-full-moon times, bullets would hurt werewolves just as much as they would hurt humans; however, werewolf physiology would allow them to heal faster.
 * "Werewolf Hunter"'s / Knights of Ossory's Chemical Weapons: The chemicals that Werewolf Hunter uses in her experiments to "cure" werewolves are toxic to them and poison their psychic connection to the Primal Magic. To fight off the toxins, the infected werewolves need to physically reconnect with Primal Magic.

Trivia

 * In the Wolf Bride universe, vampires do not exist and are "nothing but stories". This infers that either the werewolves of Hunt's Peak are unaware of vampires existing or they do not share the same universe as the Bloodbound and Nightbound series.
 * The Werewolf Hunter is revealed to be a werewolf born on a full moon night in Chapter 11, which is why she is born blind.
 * The MC is revealed to be a werewolf in Chapters 13 and 15 (due to her having premium options to unlock a wolf form and a Primal form).