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Jul. 28th, 2013 06:43 pmWerewolf lore in the Teen Wolf universe.
There are three recognized type of werewolves; Alphas, Betas and Omegas. An Alpha wolf is the leader of his or her pack, made up of Betas. Seconds in command are still Betas, but are recognized as more powerful than others. Omegas are lone wolves without a pack, and as a result are usually chased down and killed by Hunters. (There is not much explicit in canon about why this happens, but it's heavily implied that 1) Lone wolves are easy pray for Hunters and 2) Lone wolves are much more likely to hurt/kill humans.)
Werewolves have a very loose sort of hierarchy within the world of Teen Wolf. A Beta can become an Alpha, and Alpha can fall to Omega or Beta, and on and on. If one is a werewolf, one's place in the dynamic of a pack can be in constant flux. A True Alpha is capable of shifting fully into a wolf form; other Alphas, Betas and Omegas are only capable of partially shifting. There are two types of Alpha; the Alpha that grabs his or her power through violence and murder (i.e.; killing the old Alpha or their entire pack of Betas) or a "True Alpha" who rises by sheer force of will, and by goodness of character. Alphas are the only werewolves that can confer the Bite onto humans, turning them into werewolves.
A pack of werewolves can be an enormous extended family, like the Hale family, or a group associated by choice and philosophy, coming together over shared values. This helps keep the pack bond strong. (Not much has been stated explicitly in canon as to what constitutes a pack bond, and what "powers" go along with it, other than it exists and can be felt by Bitten and Born wolves.) Werewolves in packs have more than just protection, it allows them to be "stronger" somehow, but, as above, canon is frustratingly vague on exactly why. (Seriously, Derek, stop biting random teenagers and hoping the pack will grow.)
There are also two types of werewolves; Bitten and Born. Those who are Born wolves are (usually) in better command of their powers, and understand pack dynamics almost instinctively. Bitten wolves have a very difficult struggle at first, their first full moons practically torturous. (And several full moons thereafter, frankly.) Most Bitten wolves are restrained during this period, to keep from hurting themselves and others.
There is also the risk to being Bitten: It might not take. If that happens, 99% of the time, the one bitten simply dies. However, very rarely, a Bitten human might turn into an abomination known as a Kanima, a lizard-like shapeshifter with a poisonous bite, only good for killing. There has only been one person ever brought back from being turned into a Kanima, Jackson Whittemore. (And then he went to London. Yup.)
Oh, and .000001% of the time, the bite will do nothing at all. There is one human who is totally immune to all supernatural threats, and that's Lydia Martin. She is, so far, the only person in canon stated to be immune.
Derek Hale, the current Alpha wolf in canon, states early on in the show that there's a Code of werewolf behavior, and an implied treaty with the Argent family hunters. This Code STILL has not been explicitly spelled out in three seasons. (FRUSTRATING) But Derek says his family "lived by the Code," implying that they were a law-abiding pack, and benevolent. Further implying that other packs in the area do not live by the Code, or had not in the past. The Alpha Pack, the current "bad guys" on the show, are all implied to have broken the Code by killing their own Betas. Doing so made them even more powerful, yes, but all twisted up inside.
There are three recognized type of werewolves; Alphas, Betas and Omegas. An Alpha wolf is the leader of his or her pack, made up of Betas. Seconds in command are still Betas, but are recognized as more powerful than others. Omegas are lone wolves without a pack, and as a result are usually chased down and killed by Hunters. (There is not much explicit in canon about why this happens, but it's heavily implied that 1) Lone wolves are easy pray for Hunters and 2) Lone wolves are much more likely to hurt/kill humans.)
Werewolves have a very loose sort of hierarchy within the world of Teen Wolf. A Beta can become an Alpha, and Alpha can fall to Omega or Beta, and on and on. If one is a werewolf, one's place in the dynamic of a pack can be in constant flux. A True Alpha is capable of shifting fully into a wolf form; other Alphas, Betas and Omegas are only capable of partially shifting. There are two types of Alpha; the Alpha that grabs his or her power through violence and murder (i.e.; killing the old Alpha or their entire pack of Betas) or a "True Alpha" who rises by sheer force of will, and by goodness of character. Alphas are the only werewolves that can confer the Bite onto humans, turning them into werewolves.
A pack of werewolves can be an enormous extended family, like the Hale family, or a group associated by choice and philosophy, coming together over shared values. This helps keep the pack bond strong. (Not much has been stated explicitly in canon as to what constitutes a pack bond, and what "powers" go along with it, other than it exists and can be felt by Bitten and Born wolves.) Werewolves in packs have more than just protection, it allows them to be "stronger" somehow, but, as above, canon is frustratingly vague on exactly why. (Seriously, Derek, stop biting random teenagers and hoping the pack will grow.)
There are also two types of werewolves; Bitten and Born. Those who are Born wolves are (usually) in better command of their powers, and understand pack dynamics almost instinctively. Bitten wolves have a very difficult struggle at first, their first full moons practically torturous. (And several full moons thereafter, frankly.) Most Bitten wolves are restrained during this period, to keep from hurting themselves and others.
There is also the risk to being Bitten: It might not take. If that happens, 99% of the time, the one bitten simply dies. However, very rarely, a Bitten human might turn into an abomination known as a Kanima, a lizard-like shapeshifter with a poisonous bite, only good for killing. There has only been one person ever brought back from being turned into a Kanima, Jackson Whittemore. (And then he went to London. Yup.)
Oh, and .000001% of the time, the bite will do nothing at all. There is one human who is totally immune to all supernatural threats, and that's Lydia Martin. She is, so far, the only person in canon stated to be immune.
Derek Hale, the current Alpha wolf in canon, states early on in the show that there's a Code of werewolf behavior, and an implied treaty with the Argent family hunters. This Code STILL has not been explicitly spelled out in three seasons. (FRUSTRATING) But Derek says his family "lived by the Code," implying that they were a law-abiding pack, and benevolent. Further implying that other packs in the area do not live by the Code, or had not in the past. The Alpha Pack, the current "bad guys" on the show, are all implied to have broken the Code by killing their own Betas. Doing so made them even more powerful, yes, but all twisted up inside.