
The Werewolves are creatures of the Alpha series.
History
Unlike werewolves in Wolf Bride and Nightbound, werewolves in Alpha aren't always born as such, but can also be turned. Some examples of "legacy" werewolves in the story are Kala, Randy and Channing, while Your Character is a human who is turned. However, based on Your Character's abilities, it is speculated that he/she has at least someone in their bloodline who is a werewolf. Additionally, others who come from werewolf families choose to not turn and remain humans, such as Cal.
Werewolf powers begin to emerge between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two, coinciding with the typical age of university enrollment. That being said, if a legacy werewolf is under enough stress close to the Blood Moon, their first transformation might occur prematurely. Channing's first shift at age 15 was triggered by the intense anger of learning that his/her mother's long-ago death had been the result of her going feral and needing to be put down by her own pack. Humans or legacy werewolves that haven't shifted yet on the other hand, go through a series of trials called the Blood Moon Ritual. In said ritual, the human or the legacy werewolf enters a dream-like state, and if they pass their trials, they have their first transformation and become werewolves. In some very rare cases, werewolves who are soulmates or identical twins can pass their trials together. If they do, they are called "Moon Twins".
However, there is a chance an initiate might go feral during the Blood Moon Ritual. Lost to their humanity, they'd become a mere beast, dangerous to themselves and to others. In this case, the Pack is forced to put them down. When searching Channing's bedroom in Book 1, Chapter 2, you find a ledger that mentions victims of the Blood Moon, implying that there were quite a few initiates that lost their life during the ritual.
Werewolves are brought up isolated from the human world. This results to many werewolves having a hard time interacting, having relationships with humans, or understanding their culture and way of life. In the past, werewolves who had a dispute settled their differences with a brawl. The brawl was a way for them to restore their honor.
Blood Moon Ritual
According to Channing, the Blood Moon Ritual is a test of worthiness, strength, and endurance. If one passes it, then they join the Pack. Before said ritual, ancient werewolves would engage in a night of hedonism and debauchery before transforming.
In Chapter 14, Channing offers to read to you the chapter dedicated to the Blood Moon Ritual from the book that has been in their use for hundreds of years, since the founding of the frat:
"Upon the Eve of the Blood Moon, the Pack, steadfast in Tradition, shall conduct the Initiate with grave Solemnity to the consecrated Place... that all may bear Witness to the formidable Transformation, destined to intertwine their Existence with the Lineage of the Lupine."
"...there shall be a designated a special Chamber, dedicated solely to the Ritual of the Blood Moon Transformation. This Chamber shall be situated in the deepest Recesses of our Fraternity House, hidden from the prying Eyes of Outsiders. Upon the hallowed Walls of this Chamber, Iron Chains and Clamps shall be affixed with solemn Precision. These are not Instruments of Torture, but of Safety, designed to restrain those Initiates who, during the Ritual, succumb to their primal Urges."
"Laid meticulously upon the Stone Floor, a Circle of Candles shall be arrayed...their illumination guiding each Novitiate through their Metamorphosis."
The Ritual Potion
"When the Blood Moon reaches its Zenith, the Initiate shall be presented with the sacred Chalice, from which they are to partake of the Potion."
As Channing explains, the potion which is being held in a cup called "Cup of Dreams", contains herbs that enhance a werewolf's telepathic abilities and send them into a waking dream (a lucid dream). However, unlike other lucid dreams, this one can kill.
The Dream Quest
"The Waking Dream is naught but a Sojourn of the Soul... compelling the Initiate to face their darkest Fears and thereby assert Mastery over the Savage Creature that stirs within."
Everyone's experience on the dream quest is different, depending on their personal demons. If one fails to conquer those demons, they become trapped in a perpetual nightmare.
Going Feral
"Should the Initiate fail to master their innermost Fears and embrace the Beast within, they shall be overtaken by an implacable Bloodlust. Having devolved into a State of untamed Ferocity, it becomes the solemn and lamentable Duty of the Pack to end the Life of the Afflicted."
Channing mentions that feral werewolves are mostly werewolves that have been freshly transformed, although there are cases where some veteran werewolves have given in to their anger and animalistic side and became like that. Feral werewolves are noted to be incredibly strong.
Lifespan and Characteristics
Werewolves can choose to shift at will, unless they lose control in phases of great emotions such as during the party when Channing starts to shift in front of everyone when sensing that Chad is a threat to you.
Young werewolves are mostly a danger to themselves, hence the need for a supportive community like Alpha Tau Sigma. Furthermore, they frequently suffer from impulse control, and need strong guidance to learn how to live responsibly in both the human and werewolf worlds. Nascent powers include rudimentary telepathy, increased strength, and enhanced sense of sight, smell, and hearing. After becoming a werewolf, you notice that you have become super hungry, and when you tell Cal about it, he says that this is because your physiology has shifted, and that your transformation has affected your metabolism, your circadian rhythm, and your sex drive.
Appearance
Werewolves in Alpha closely resemble normal wolves.
Soulmates
Some werewolves have soulmates. Two spirits, fated by destiny to be bonded for life. Some may go their whole lives without finding their soulmate, but for those who do, the call is undeniable. Their love is so fierce, so all consuming, that nothing save death can break their bond. Because of that, it's rare for one soulmate to outlive the other. If an alpha finds their soulmate it's extremely dangerous, since the power of their bond combined with the responsibilities of being a leader, is enough to crush some of them. Moreover, if there is a power imbalance between two soulmates, the claim on each other can sometimes become toxic.
Soulmates share a special telepathic soulbond , and they are meant share the burden of being the alpha and lead their Pack together.
In a premium scene of Book 1, Chapter 13, Kala tells you the legendary story her grandmother passed on to her of how werewolves find their soulmates under a blue moon. Two alphas from warring packs first met on the battlefield and immediately fell in love with each other, instantly knowing they were soulmates. They still felt the need to fight but then the blue moon became visible and that's when they decided to end the feud. The two packs came together under the blue moon and became one pack, led by two alphas. They became one of the strongest, most successful packs in history and the two alphas became the founders of the Woolsey branch of Alpha Tau. Members of wolf families like Kala's are sent to Woolsey in hopes they will find their soulmates there, too.
Companions
Humans who have latent wolf powers but choose to stay human and are mates to a werewolf are called companions. An example is Cal who prefers being called Asher's boyfriend and over being called his companion. Cal mentions that werewolves are skittish and have to be extra cautious around their human mates, since werewolves are a lot stronger than humans, while humans are vulnerable and are afraid of hurting them.
Customs
The Pack
It is unknown how a Pack is formed in Alpha, although it is speculated that once a werewolf joins Alpha Tau Sigma, then this becomes their designated Pack until their graduation. For a werewolf, losing their Pack is a fate worse than death.
The Alpha
If you ask Channing how he/she became the current alpha of the Pack, he/she says that when the former Woolsey alpha graduated, he/she won the competition and replaced her. He/She also says that it takes a special combination of smarts and strength to lead the Pack, and that an alpha isn't just a leader, but also a protector, and the guiding force for the Pack. The alpha is chosen for strength and leadership abilities, and is responsible for nurturing a healthy Pack atmosphere. An alpha leads weekly midnight hunts (Which are called "Night Hunts") to protect their territory from outside threats, such as rabid animals, invasive species, and even feral werewolves.
Relationships with Humans
In Book 1, Chapter 12, Anna can tell you more about werewolf history up to the point where the blood feud between werewolves and Hunters started:
"Werewolves have walked among men for generations. We lived in harmony with the humans, intermarrying, raising children. But some humans came to envy our strength. As we all know, envy breeds fear... and fear breeds hatred. In order to keep peace, our kind came to an agreement with humanity, withdrawing into the isolation of our dens. With each successive generation, werewolves passed into legends among the humans... Until a young werewolf named Rory fell in love. The forbidden love between this wolf and the human named Kit would spark a blood feud that persists to this day." (To see more about Rory and Kit, go to the section on Werewolf Hunters)
The (Alpha Tau) werewolves are very reclusive from humans with an ironclad non-fraternization rule in place which prevents their nature as wolves from being accidentally discovered by humans but which also isolates them from their fellow students. This means no sports, no parties, and generally no social events. Some werewolves mate with humans who come from a wolf family but chose to stay human, even though they may develop some latent wolf powers that protect them. Channing says that no werewolf can "wolf out" in public, so they often have to rely on their human strength.
Werewolf Hunters
One of the enemies werewolves have to face, are werewolf hunters. After the attack on the Colorado lodge, Anna Torrez can tell you the story of the star crossed lovers, Rory and Kit, whose love story started the current feud between werewolves and hunters. Rory was a werewolf who fell in love with human Kit. Rory's father was angry when he bit Kit which with dark alchemy immediately turned Kit into a feral werewolf who had to be put down. Kit transformed back onto a human upon dying and was found like this by his/her brothers who realized what happened and killed Rory. And so, from that day forward, the villagers dedicated their lives to wiping out all werewolves, becoming the first Hunters.
Argento is one of their current leaders, and Markus Barnes along with his brother and rest of his family are very notorious werewolf hunters. Said werewolf hunters believe that werewolves are vicious monsters, and that killing rabid dogs such as werewolves isn't murder, but a public service. There are also rumors that they have the cure to lycanthropy and the means to revert transformations, although no such thing has been proved yet.
Powers and Abilities
- Shapeshifting: All full werewolves can intentionally transform into a wolf at any time. This transformation can be partial, as shown in Book 1, Chapter 6 when Channing grows fangs before reverting to human form. Inexperience or stress can also cause werewolves to shift in and out of wolf form involuntarily.
- Superhuman Speed: Werewolves are consistently shown to be considerably faster than humans, most notably in Book 1, Chapter 8 when the members of Alpha Tau need to hold themselves back while competing in athletic events against normal college students. You and Kala demonstrate lesser but still-inhuman speed in Book 1, Chapter 1 prior to becoming full werewolves, which indicates that anyone with the potential to become a werewolf has some measure of this power.
- Superhuman Strength: Werewolves are stronger than humans. This is demonstrated most clearly in Book 1, Chapter 18 if you choose to punch a boulder, which leaves a fist-sized crater in it.
- Superhuman Healing: Channing states that werewolves are able to heal faster than humans after being wounded.
- (Pack) Telepathy: Werewolves use pack telepathy to communicate, especially while they're in wolf form. It only goes both ways if both want to share their thoughts with each other. Soulmates also have the ability to use a deeper type of telepathy which allows them to listen in on each other's thoughts even if those thoughts aren't being projected.
- Scent Tracking: Werewolves can track the scent of various animals or humans.
- Cold Immunity/Body Warmth: Werewolf blood runs hot, which is why they usually spar and sleep naked and only wear clothes in such circumstances out of courtesy. In Book 1, Chapter 10, you must wear warm clothes to be comfortable in a Colorado winter, but Channing and all the other wolves are fine in their normal clothes.
- Lucid Dreaming: Werewolves can lucid dream and see the future in their dreams. If a werewolf lucid dreams, they can control how the dream unfolds, and there are no rules and limitations that forbid them from acting on their desires.
- Dream Walking: Werewolves can dreamwalk into the minds of other werewolves.
Alpha Powers
Every alpha werewolf has the ability to force the obedience of those under their command. Some alphas also have a stronger version of standard werewolf powers, such as Ryan's heightened skill with lucid dreaming and dreamwalking. Other alphas have access to powers unique to them, such as your healing ability.
- Compulsion: All alpha werewolves have some ability to command the behavior of non-alpha wolves. When an alpha issues an order, either deliberately or through the carelessness of not controlling their dominance, lower-ranked wolves are incapable of disobeying. Such orders are usually short-term, such as telling someone to calm down or take a walk; there's no indication that an alpha could permanently alter another werewolf's behavior through a single command. Alphas also have some ability to use this power on each other if one is stronger, though it's unclear if other factors may influence the success of such compulsion.
- Healing Touch: In Book 2, Chapter 3, you discover that your new alpha status has given you the power to heal someone with a touch. This ability seems imperfect, as your first healing of Emery results in her losing her power to transform into a wolf.
Weaknesses
- Silver and Wolfsbane: Both can be lethal to werewolves.
- Feral: Each wolf has a risk of going feral. This means they lose their humanity and turn into a beast that needs to be put down as they would be a danger to themselves and others.
- Smoke Bomb: In Book 1, Chapter 12, Channing tells you that the Hunter's smoke bomb ruined his/her sense of smell and left him/her unable to follow a scent trail.
- Ultrasonic Whistle: In Book 1, Chapter 19, Markus uses an ultrasonic whistle to put all werewolves in a state of confusion and pain. Channing orders you to transform back into human form, as you would go deaf if you stayed in your wolf body.
Known Woolsey Werewolves
Werewolf | Description | Status |
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Channing Lowe is the alpha of the Woolsey werewolf pack. He/She is also your soulmate. | Alive |
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Originally being a human and an initiate of Alpha Tau Sigma, you pass the "Blood Moon Ritual" and become a werewolf. As Channing's soulmate, you become his/her second-in-command. | Alive |
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Kala is another Alpha Tau Sigma initiate who comes from a werewolf family, but didn't have the chance to shift yet. She passes the "Blood Moon Ritual" the same night as you, and becomes a werewolf. | Alive |
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Lupe is a high-ranking pack member of the Woolsey chapter of Alpha Tau Sigma. | Alive |
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Asher is a high-ranking pack member of the Woolsey chapter of Alpha Tau Sigma. | Alive |
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Romi is a pack member of the Woolsey chapter of ΑΤΣ and Sumera's twin sister. | Alive |
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Sumera is a pack member of the Woolsey chapter of ΑΤΣ and Romi's twin sister. | Alive |
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Randy is a former pack member of the Woolsey chapter of ΑΤΣ. After betraying the pack to werewolf hunters, he was exiled from the fraternity. | Alive |
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Derek is a pack member of the Woolsey chapter of ΑΤΣ. | Alive |
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Tanya is a pack member of the Woolsey chapter of ΑΤΣ. | Alive |
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Jake is a pack member of the Woolsey chapter of ΑΤΣ. | Alive |
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Lydia is a pack member of the Woolsey chapter of ΑΤΣ. | Alive |
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Miguel is a pack member of the Woolsey chapter of ΑΤΣ. | Alive |
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Farah is a pack member of the Woolsey chapter of ΑΤΣ. | Alive |
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Mary is a pack member of the Woolsey chapter of ΑΤΣ. During the Greek Games, she is too excited to keep her claws in. | Alive |
Other Werewolves
Werewolf | Description | Status |
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Gael is alpha of ΑΤΣ's Portland chapter and head alpha of all Alpha Tau Sigma fraternities. He is also Opal's soulmate. | Alive |
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Nick Glazer is alpha of the Flagstaff chapter of ΑΤΣ. | Alive |
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Anna Torrez is alpha of the biggest werewolf pack in Colorado. | Alive |
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Ryan is alpha of the Long Beach chapter of ΑΤΣ. | Alive |
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Emery is alpha of the Atlanta chapter of ΑΤΣ. | Alive |
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Opal is alpha of the Poughkeepsie chapter of ΑΤΣ. She is also Gael's soulmate. | Alive |
Historical Werewolves
Gallery
Trivia
- Werewolves are noted to have a temper, to be very athletic, and to have robust appetites.
- The Alpha Tau stone tablet and the Alpha's fang, are two very important werewolf artifacts.
- "Wolf Trials" is an obstacle course game in the woods, meant for endurance training and showcasing strength.
- Lupe on the other hand believes that it's about working together as a Pack and as a team.
- Werewolves digest meat like other canines, making it safe to eat raw meat.
- In werewolf culture, a shooting star is an omen of love and prosperity.