There are various degrees of pain associated with becoming a werewolf; of course there is a serum that may be injected within you so that you may become a werewolf. Unfortunately it seems that most people have become werewolves after being attacked by lycanthropes while they were in wolf form. A werewolf is not contagious while in human form so the irrational fears of the human race are unfounded. Sadly werewolves seem to have the most contagious form of lycanthropy which is why they remain the most well known.
When you are bitten, or attacked by a werewolf it will usually take weeks for the change to become apparent in your blood but is most likely something you would discover the first full moon after being bitten. It is quite unfortunate that the first change is the most painful thing you may ever experience and that you will most likely not remember anything more than flashes of what seems like a dream afterwards. After awhile you will regain control and the more power you gain the easier it is for you to control the shift.
Luckily being a werewolf would make you hard to injure but it also means that you are immune to various painkillers and will have to suffer through pain before being able to heal. If you wish to heal wounds in a quicker manner it is recommended that you shift. The slowest and most fatal wounds made to a lycanthrope would be silver and vampire bites, as well as wounds inflicted by another lycan, which are less fatal and easier to heal.
When you first enter a pack you are given a sponsor who will teach you everything that you need to know about your life as a werewolf and the precautions to take.
Werewolves, like regular wolves prefer to form packs for hunting and some for life. The pack is referred to as a �lukoi� which is a reference to a Greek King Lycaon who was turned into a wolf by the god Zeus, as respect for the wolf king werewolves began referring to their packs as a Lukoi.
The hierarchy of the lukoi is quite complicated with various levels; if you join a pack your dominance will help your standing within the lukoi there are certain terms you must become comfortable and acquaint yourself with.
Munin: The munin is the spirit of dead wolves. They are existent in the memory and the blood of living werewolves among a lukoi. It is very rare that a lukoi would actually be able to communicate properly with the munin. When a wolf dies, he/she becomes part of the munin by having his/her body consumed by the lukoi.
Ulfric: This is in essence the leader of the pack who is typically male and considered King, all the members of the lukoi must follow him and his directions until he is challenged for the power of Ulfric.
Lupa: The alpha female. The Ulfric and the Lupa bond for life so it is wise for the Ulfric to choose someone that he would be able to marry in the �real world.� Sex is also an integral part of the bonding process. A Lupa may sometimes choose to leave the Ulfric�s bed and mate with other members of the pack which means there should be a special exchange and somewhat of a challenge. The Lupa would at first declare herself Freyja
1. The Lupa cuts the chest of the Ulfric with a knife.
2. The Lupa cuts her own chest with a knife, above her heart.
3. The Lupa would say, �Your heart to mine, mine to yours. Lupa to your Ulfric. But not to your bed or you to mine.�
4. The knife is thrust into the ground where a surge of power bursts from the earth. The munin then burst forth and affect every male werewolf in the vicinity, announcing the challenge that has been made.
5. Final words are spoken: "Catch me if you can, my Ulfric."
And the Lupa runs until one of the werewolves catches her and mates with her. If he changes into a wolf before he is able to mate with her, he is instantly disqualified.
Freki: The Freki would be the second to the Ulfric along with Geri who is the other second.
Skoll: the Skoll would be the enforcer of the pack, a sort of bodyguard.
Hati: Hati is the second enforcer of the pack, a body guard for the Ulfric.
Fenrir: The wolf who has issued a challenge to the Ulfric to be the leader of the pack. To assume control of the pack the Fenrir must kill the Ulfric and can them choose his mate.
Bolverk: the Bolverk is in essence who does everything that the Ulfric does not feel like doing, whether it be defending the pack or punishing members of the pack.
Vargamour: the Lukoi�s wise woman, or wise man, who is usually a witch or psychic and guides the pack.
Lupanar: the place where the Lukoi gather to celebrate the full moon, calling on the munin to change into animal form and also where they gather for other matters such as battles for succession.
There is a certain amount of etiquette that is to be maintained within the pack order as well.
To greet a fellow pack member you would rub your cheek along the other person/wolf�s cheek and bury your face in the hair behind their ear, inhaling their scent and allowing them to know
When a submissive greets a dominant in public it is expected that they would exchange a soft kiss, with fingers gently holding their face. In private the submissive would lick the dominants upper lip.
Gaining protection from a pack member is quite easy, the submissive would move into the dominant without actually touching them, if the dominant touches the submissive then they have extended their protection.
Information obtained from:
http://halo-productions.com/anita/info/lukoi.htm
http://www.timber-wolf.net/blake/char-wolves.html
