[Shadowhunter] Encyclopedia

✺ Werewolves

Werewolves are humans infected with a demonic disease, Lycanthropy, giving them the ability to transform into powerful wolves, Changing either under the influence of the full moon or at will. In their lupine and human forms, werewolves possess inhuman strength, speed, and other enhanced capabilities, with strong claws and canines.

Werewolves are also able to Change partially, "half in and half out of wolf form", with their wolf ears, taloned hands, muzzle, and some fur, but giving them the ability to speak. Werewolves can still see well at night or in dark places, like vampires.

In human form, they look like they would as mundanes, and retain their superhuman capabilities. Werewolves are mortal; they age and die normally like ordinary humans though they do grow slightly faster.

Humans are Turned when bitten or scratched by a werewolf; though not all bitten or scratched are Turned, this still cause lycanthropy in its victim approximately half of the time. Though, many safeguards and organizational work by Shadowhunters and by werewolves themselves against werewolf bites are in place, so rogue werewolf bites are said to be a rare occurrence now.

Werewolves can also be Turned through a spell and can also be born from two werewolf parents, though not all children of werewolves will necessarily be born with lycanthropy. The only ways to permanently wound or kill a werewolf are either through a seraph blade or with pure silver. Silver is associated with the moon, and wounds made with silver weapons will cause permanent damage to them, even their enhanced healing abilities are not effective when inflicted with silver.

Each werewolf pack is lead by an alpha wolf. Any werewolf that kills the pack leader will subsequently gain control of the pack. Aside from battle, a werewolf leader can also simply depart and name a new one to replace him/her.

Article by Lone_Wolf-