woofs

Werewolves

As with most magical species previously thought to be the stuff of legends, werewolves don't quite meet up with the portrayals of myths and media. Most werewolves won't even use that to describe themselves, referring to their kind simply as "wolves".

Biology
Rather than the hairy weirdos with weird legs of B-movie fame, werewolves fully shift into, you know, wolves. They're virtually indistinguishable from the average wolf, save for the occasional odd coloring and markings that can be associated with their human form. Their eyes also take on a glow that's distinctly magical in nature, color dependent on their rank in the pack; this can be done at will, as an expression of understanding or camaraderie, or can be a reaction to an Alpha's command, as well as an unintentional reaction to intense emotion.

The shift itself is painful, but brief, and becomes easier over time. Older wolves can change in as little as ten seconds, while younger (or newly changed) wolves might take a few minutes. In the same vein, older wolves can change at will, whole younger wolves might shift in times of intense emotion. It's painful not to shift during the full moon, though a more experienced wolf can pull it off, if necessary.

In both wolf and human form, werewolves are stronger, faster and built hardier than their non-supernatural counterparts. They heal incredibly quickly; minor cuts may vanish in seconds, breaks in less than an hour. They'll rarely develop human, non-magic illnesses-- they also won't feel the effects of human, non-magic drugs or alcohol. Their body temperatures tend to run a few degrees higher than a human's.
Werewolves can be born or changed. Only one werewolf parent is needed for a baby to be a born wolf (and babies born to two wolves aren't necessarily wolves themselves). A born wolf will go through their first shift between 4-6 years of age. Werewolf babies, however, share the same heightened senses as their adult counterparts, as well the glowy eyes.

Making a werewolf is rare for a few reasons: 1) about a quarter of the humans that are bitten don't survive it 2) only an alpha werewolf's bite can change a human 3) it's risky to have grown adults that are used to being human suddenly being werewolves, because there's a LOT to adjust to that most werewolves have had a lifetime to get used to it. Changing a human isn't entirely unheard of, however, because alpha werewolves have a natural instinct to expand their pack. If they don't have at least two other wolves with them, they're inclined to give into that instinct and create werewolves to join them. Of course, there are rogue werewolves, that don't have a pack and are alpha by default, that go around biting humans willy-nilly.

The fullmoon is a cycle that extends over a few days, rather than just one night, where a werewolf will be most on edge in their human form. Even werewolves that have excellent control might be prone to fits of temper during the fullmoon. Conversely, during the newmoon, werewolves are most distant from their furrier self. Some werewolves even feel sick for a couple days during this time.

Pack

At the head of the pack is the Alpha, and their mate if they have one. The Alpha werewolf leads the pack and, ideally, protects them, putting the interests of the whole above themselves. They are able to command the pack with an Alpha Voice, but this is generally seen as a last resort and a good Alpha won't abuse the ability. In wolf form, the Alpha is larger than the rest of the pack. The Alpha's eyes flash gold.(edited)
Most packs have a Second, who helps the Alpha maintain the safety and comfort of the pack and serves as a secondary voice on important pack matters. The second and the rest of the wolves are Betas. Their eyes flash green.

Wolves without a pack are known by many names, most often rogues or Omegas. Not having a pack wears on a wolf's mind and can, over time, cause them to act more violently than they would normally. The drive to create a pack can force them to lash out at humans or Alphas of established packs, in an attempt to take the pack from them. Their eyes flash blue.

Packs aren't necessarily familial, and oftentimes children of the alpha will leave to form their own packs, but there are plenty of packs where most, if not all, members are related.

Physical contact and scenting are pretty important to pack bonding! Think, puppy piles and occasionally rubbing a hand or cheek against a pack member to get their scents all mixed together. There can be non-werewolf members of a pack; the non-wolf member won't feel the pack bond the same way a werewolf would, but the werewolves of the pack will still react to the non-wolf member the same as their furry counterparts.(edited)
An alpha can choose to take pretty much whoever they like into the pack, and the ritual of binding a non-wolf into the dynamic is so simple it's barely a ritual. Basically? The alpha asks the non-wolf person if they'd like to be in the pack, the non-wolf person says yes, and furry magic immediately begins to do it's work.

The werewolves of the pack will feel bonded to the non-wolf the same as if they were another werewolf. That is to say, they'll smell like pack, and werewolves will benefit from physical pack bonding with a non-wolf just as much as a werewolf. Humans won't be affected by this bond to the same extent as wolves, but extended time in the pack can make them more sensitive to it.

"Mates"
Wolves might not actually mate for life, but werewolves sure as hell do. Any given werewolf has a number of potential mate candidates; some werewolves will tell you this is always another wolf, but it's really give or take. Most werewolves can sense their mate on smell alone, but certain emotionally stunted individuals will refuse to acknowledge this fact until it's almost like they never acknowledged it at all!
A werewolf is under no obligation to get together with one of these potential mates. Furry magic has simply devised a way for werewolves to find mates they're most compatible with. A werewolf can have a perfectly happy relationship with someone their schnoz doesn't tell them they're destined to be with.

Forming the mate bond is a little trickier than forming a pack bond. Sometimes it's an accident. Sometimes, it doesn't happen even when the couple wants it to. Sex frequently, but not always, seals the deal. It depends heavily on the depth of feeling between the couple.
Once it's formed, though, it's nearly impossible to mistake. An empathetic link of sorts forms between the pair, allowing them to share feelings, intentionally or otherwise, with each other. Distance puts some strain on this ability to communicate, though that distance can be increased with time and practice.

Other
:feet: Alphas have a similar link to their pack as the mate bond. This helps them know when their pack is in distress, as well as keeps them calm when times are good.
:feet: As well as their other heightened senses, wolves are very sensitive to emotion, often sensing it in the form of scents.
:feet: All wolves have the ability to "take pain". It's not healing, but it can relieve the pain of someone injured for a short time, from headaches to more serious injuries.(edited)