Werewolf

"What about a human by day, a freak animal killing machine by moonlight don't you understand? I mean, werewolves are badass. We haven't seen one since we were kids. You know what the best part about it is? We already know how to bring these suckers down. One of these bad boys right to the heart."

- Dean, about Werewolves

Werewolves, also known as Lycanthropes, are a race of partially-human supernatural creatures, able to morph into a combination of human and wolf, that have been encountered by hunters such as Sam and Dean Winchester. It has been stated that werewolves and skinwalkers are cousins. In the early stages it can sometimes be cured with a transfusion of live blood from the sire werewolf.

Characteristics
Werewolves are humanoid carnivores, the ultimate combination of wolves and humans. They feed on prey found nearby, which, due to the increase of urban areas, are mostly people. When they devour the flesh of victim they leave a recognizable trace on the prey: they always eat the heart, although they do sometimes eat more of the body. The transformation only occurs after a bites a victim, the way werewolves continue the spread of lycanthropy. However, they are also capable of having children who are born werewolves.

In their form, their bodies change rapidly, changing into a fitting definition of predators. Their nails increase to sharp, long claws, fangs increase in size and eyes resemble those of a wolf rather than of a human.

Some of those who are bitten don't survive the change and the timing of the change can range from the next full moon to anytime at all with purebloods.

While it was believed for a long time that there is no cure for lycanthropy, the British Men of Letters came up with a cure that worked on one out of nine mice test subjects: injecting the live blood of the sire werewolf. Of the two humans it was tried on, only one survived the process which was excruciatingly painful. However, this is said to only work in the early stages of infection. Like the vampire cure, it also won't work if the werewolf feeds.

According to Justin, werewolves are meant to live in packs, not alone. Losing his entire pack drove Justin slightly insane, changing him from a harmless werewolf into one that was desperate and willing to do anything to get the sense of companionship he had from having a pack back.

Types of Werewolves
There are two types of werewolves shown in the series: regular werewolves, and pureblood werewolves.

Regular Werewolves
Regular werewolves can only turn into a during nights coinciding with the peak of the lunar cycle during their sleep - as Sam and Dean waited for Madison from turning into a werewolf again by remaining in her apartment during a night under a full moon, and no werewolf transformation was seen while she was awake. However, when the next night arrived, Madison fell sleep and went on another feral rampage.

In the series, the people affected by the disease have a short-term memory loss, often leaving them in confusion of wounds which might have been caused during the night. In the series, Dean manages to cut Madison with a silver knife, making her wonder how the wound was created.

Despite having no control over and during their transformation, certain fragments of their personality and fears can be imbibed by the werewolf's mind, especially strong ones. Aside from hunger, suppressed fears or aggression can drive them to kill in their beast form. As such, a werewolf's attack may be controlled by these emotions, depending on which one is dominant. When Madison was attacked, she was turned into a werewolf when her attacker felt an intense drive to mate. On another hand, Madison defensively killed a stalker when she felt that the man was becoming too invasive with respect to her privacy.

Pure-blood Werewolves
Werewolves that are closer to the Alpha up to the fourth generation are referred to as Pure-bloods. Their human side retains more control over their animal side, and they can remember afterwards what happens during their transformation. They can transform any time they want. Pure-bloods can also access some of their powers such as enhanced strength and speed while in human form.

Pure bloods can also feed on just animal hearts, but if they get a taste of human hearts, it is harder to control themselves. They will be drawn to eating human hearts, the temptation escalating with each heart eaten. It is still difficult for them to eat animal hearts even if they can resist (one stated he had to force himself to swallow them). It is indicated that pure bloods are both those bitten by a first, second and third generation werewolf and those who are offspring as it has been shown werewolves can have children and one existed that was a fourth generation werewolf.

Despite purebloods having control over themselves in their transformed state, being turned into one has been shown to still have a potential detrimental effect on a person's mental state. In the case of Corbin Tilghman, he was transformed from a loving husband into a remorseless killer who was clearly intoxicated by his new power despite stating that he had never wanted it and appearing to have a fearful reaction when he first changed. Also, Brian Wilcox, already mentally unstable at the time he was bitten, went completely insane after being transformed and feeling the new power it gave him. The power also changed Tasha for the worst after Kate turned Tasha to save her life. In all of these cases, the werewolf became intoxicated by the power they gained and allowed it to alter their mental state.

According to Bess Fitzgerald, its harder for purebloods who are bitten to control their instincts than purebloods who are born as werewolves. Claire Novak, who was "barely holding it together" on a daily basis, believed that she would not be able to control herself despite having been bitten by a pureblood due to her issues.

Silver Immune Werewolves
In "Bobby Singer's Guide to Hunting" Bobby mentions a hunter that came across powerful werewolves, that had a more wolf-like appearance and an immunity to silver weapons. The hunter mentioned that they were not immune to a chainsaw however.

Powers and Abilities

 * Shapeshifting - Werewolves transform into a wolf-like creature only under a full moon. During Season 6, Sam tells Dean that werewolves no longer change under a full moon, but under half moons. The demon Crowley agreed with Sam by saying "werewolves changing under a full moon, so... 09". It is presumably due to the upcoming arrival of Eve. Following her death, transformation patterns appeared to have shifted back to full moon only, as Sam and Dean were later surprised to be dealing with werewolves outside the full moon. Pureblood werewolves can shift at will, however, they somewhat lose control whenever they feed on human hearts.
 * Infectious bite - While in beast form, a werewolf can turn another person into a werewolf through a bite.
 * Claws and Fangs - Werewolves have powerful claws and are able to cut through solid walls. Their fangs can tear human flesh and can rip out a human heart right out of their chest cavity. Pureblood werewolves are able to transform just their claws without transforming fully.
 * Super Strength - A werewolf's strength is much greater than a human. They can easily overpower humans and can rip flesh and bones with amazing force, their strength is notable even for monsters, as they have been observed as being able to smash stone with their bare hands. Even while in human form, werewolves have incredible strength, as one newly-bitten werewolf saw no challenge in lifting an adult woman high above his head using only one hand, and would accidentally rip a door off its hinges also using virtually no effort. All werewolves seem to have a similar level of strength, however a possible exception to this would be the Alpha Werewolf, as Alphas are naturally stronger than their descendants.
 * Enhanced Agility - Their agility is greater than humans, often allowing them to perform incredible jumps and sprints easily.
 * Super Speed - A werewolf can move very fast; they are able to move from place to place in seconds.
 * Super Stamina - Werewolves do not tire easily.
 * Super Senses - All werewolves are able to see better than humans in darkness, similar to actual wolves, their sense of smell and hearing is equally enhanced.
 * Invulnerability - Werewolves can't be killed by conventional means and weapons. Silver however, can kill them.
 * Regeneration - Werewolves can regenerate all non-lethal damage, purebloods are even able to completely heal their original bites. Werewolves can even heal damage that would be fatal to humans such as injuries from a car wreck. Even if they are turned into a werewolf after suffering such an injury, they can heal.

Weaknesses

 * Silver - A werewolf's main weakness is their vulnerability to silver or any substance containing silver, as they can be killed with a silver knife or bullet. Contact with silver will hurt them. An injection of silver nitrate was able to kill one.
 * The Colt - As the Colt has the ability to kill almost anything, it is most likely a weakness to werewolves.
 * Vamptonite - Edgar states the Leviathan additive will kill werewolves as well as vampires.
 * Dismemberment - Kate is able to kill Brian Wilcox by ripping him to shreds. It is highly likely that severe wounds caused by at least its infectious bite, can't be regenerated by other werewolves.
 * Angels - Angels can easily kill any monster including werewolves.
 * Leviathans - Leviathans can effortlessly kill any monster.
 * Scent Misdirection - Werewolves have been shown to be able to have their scent fooled which allows an enemy to sneak up on them.
 * Decapitation - Mary Winchester killed a werewolf in 1980 by blowing his head off with a shotgun.
 * Sulphate Gas - Fatal to any werewolves exposed to it.

Seasons

 * -|2=


 * -|8= In Bitten, Sam and Dean burst into a house near a college and search the place. Sam finds a corpse covered with a sheet, a corpse with no ID, and walls covered in blood. The brothers find a laptop computer with a note on it saying "Play me." The Winchesters play it and a video starts up with the words "This should never have ended this way." come up. A student, Brian Wilcox, is filming footage at a diner.

Brian is at the diner with his friend and roommate Mike Wheeler, debating what Brian should make a movie about. As Mike goofs off with his friend's camera, they spot several girls at a booth nearby and Mike good-naturedly suggests they might take pity on Brian. One of the girls, Kate, comes over and asks if they're filming her. She discusses camera technology with Brian but is clearly attracted to Mike. Later, Brian is at the house. Kate and Mike are in the next room making love. Once they're done, Kate comes out, awkwardly says hi to Brian, and goes to the kitchen. Brian, Mike, and Kate go back to the diner and Brian and Kate talk cameras. Mike doesn't know anything about cameras but Kate assures Brian that she's teaching her boyfriend about them. The friends film each other talking about what they plan to do in five years. Kate wants to be an environmentalist, a lawyer, or both. Brian wants to work in Hollywood, and Mike plans to set sail to the middle of the ocean and take things easy.

Brian is filming a literature lecture by Professor Ludensky on Lord of the Flies. Kate comes in and confirms that Brian is taping for Mike, who has dozed off again. As they leave, another student, Scott Parker bumps into Brian, knocking his camera to the ground. He runs off and the three friends follow. The police are securing a nearby crime scene where a student, Jacob Carter, was brutally murdered. Sam and Dean, posing as FBI agents, are on the scene. The detective in charge tells them that a neighbor woman reported growling noises and Jacob's scream.Back at their house, the three friends discuss what they saw and figure that it's a good thing that the FBI is checking out the murder. Mike puts on the song that was playing at the diner when he first met Kate as a gift to her. Brian asks him to come with him to test some new cameras and Mike agrees. Before he goes, he privately tells Kate that he's going because Brian doesn't have any other friends.

Brian and Mike film some footage of the stadium and spot Sam and Dean nearby. They listen in as Sam figures that it's a normal murder but Dean believes that they need to dig deeper. As night falls, Brian and Mike spot Scott and his girlfriend making out behind the bleachers. She slaps Scott and walks away, and Scott spots Mike and Brian and chases after them. The friends split up and Mike records himself as he wanders in the woods. A werewolf attacks him, dragging him off-camera. When Brian finds Mike a little later, he realizes that something has bitten his friend. However, by the time he gets Mike home, the bite mark has healed completely.

The next day, Mike gets a checkup but the doctor can't find anything wrong with him. As he opens a door, Mike inadvertently rips it off its hinges and they realize that he is now super strong. He lifts Kate one-handed into the air and wonders if he's become a superhero. Brian decides to place cameras throughout the house. When Kate notices, Brian explains that he wants to record Mike's origin story and make a film out of it. As Mike eats, Brian says that he wants to go out and get bitten so that they can both be superheroes. Mike refuses, saying that his friend doesn't want what he has. Brian begs him to do it but Mike refuses. Later, Sam and Dean arrive at the door. As they hide, Brian answers the door and the brothers ask him if they know anything about Jacob's murder, or rumors of someone being bitten. Brian denies everything and they leave, and Kate and Mike record the brothers out on the porch as they talk about dealing with another Mayan god. They play the tape back for Brian and they wonder if Mike has become a Mayan deity.

That night, Kate dozes off and Mike goes to the bathroom mirror and admires himself. However, as he films himself he realizes that he is growing fangs and claws. He smashes the mirror and then goes to look at the sleeping Kate for a minute. After stroking her cheek, he goes down to the kitchen and empties the refrigerator, but is still hungry. Scott and his friends are out patrolling the neighborhood, looking for the killer animal. Scott films himself and spots Mike, who says that he isn't in the mood for Scott's antics. Mike runs off into the woods and Scott chases after him, calling him a coward and saying that he'll go after Kate if Mike won't turn around and fight him. As Scott tries to spot him, Mike transforms and attacks him. The next morning, Brian wonders if Kate is scared of Michael but she says that his being a superhero is kind of hot. Mike comes in, covered in blood, and his friends stare at him in horror. He takes a shower to wash off the blood and then tells them that he killed Scott. They go over the footage that Mike filmed in the bathroom and see his claws, and Kate tells Brian to turn off the camera.

Brian goes to the park where Scott was killed and watches while Sam and Dean talk to the local detective. He tells the brothers that the same thing killed Scott as Jacob and that it left Scott's partially-eaten heart in the street. Michael goes back and tells his friends what happened, but Mike doesn't remember eating the heart. Kate insists that it was self-defense but Brian points out how unlikely that is and snaps at Mike. Mike shoves him across the room with one hand and then breaks down. When he says that he doesn't know who he is anymore, Kate says that he's hers. Brian insists that they have to call the police and that Mike is risking himself and them. Kate angrily tells him that he doesn't understand because he's never been in love and sets out to get some answers about Mike's condition.

Mike and Kate follow Sam and Dean to the morgue and listen as Sam tells Dean that ten years ago there was a similar murder. However, it didn't take place during the full moon. Once they leave, Kate wants to follow but Mike doesn't see the point. Brian arrives, having tracked his friends' cell phone GPSs. They wonder if he can hack anything and he assures them that he can. They follow the Winchesters to a diner and Brian hacks the security camera. Mike goes in with a hidden camera and sits at the table next to the brothers. The three friends watch and listen as Sam finds an entry about how close descendants of the pureblood can control their change and subsist on animal hearts. The brothers figure that one of the purer werewolves came to town, killed its victim, and then decided to stay.

The three friends return to their house and Mike starts to panic, figuring the 'FBI' is after him. Kate doesn't believe that the Winchesters are FBI and that they'll start by looking for the pureblood. Mike doesn't believe it and goes to his bedroom and Kate goes after him. They argue while Brian goes over the footage of the original attack on Mike. He spots something on the ground and calls to Kate, but she slams the door shut. Brian has no choice but to go out on his own and examine the attack site. He finds a pin on the ground and realizes that it's the same one that Ludensky was wearing at his last lecture. Brian goes to Ludensky's office and tells him that he knows what the professor really is.

Later, Brian comes home and finds Kate packing. As Mike comes out, Brian says that he took care of things and they ask what he did. He shows them footage of his confronting Ludensky and asking the professor to bite him as well. He warns the professor that he hid cameras in his office in advance and is transmitting the video to his laptop at home. Ludensky denies being a werewolf until Brian threatens him with a silver letter opener. Then he breaks down and explains that after the one murder ten years ago, he only ate animal hearts. However, he saw Jacob, weak and alone, and couldn't resist. Ludensky figured that hunters would come eventually so he needed a patsy. He chose Mike since he's always sleeping in and the professor figured that no one would miss him. Brian says that he wants to become a werewolf and forces the professor to bite his arm.

As the footage ends, Brian starts to transform and shows him footage of the office after he left. Sam and Dean come in and attack Ludensky, eventually killing him. With his dying breath, the professor thanks them. The brothers find the camera and take it down, cutting the transmission, and Brian figures that they're safe. He tells Kate that he protected her when Mike couldn't, but Mike figures the Winchesters will trace the feed back to Brian. Brian, angry and disgusted, tells Mike that he's tired of living in his shadow and that he finally has what he wants. Mike tries to persuade his friend that he doesn't want the horror inside of him, the horror that he experienced when he went out of control and killed Scott. Brian tells Kate that she needs him and grabs her, and Mike transforms and attacks him. The two students struggle and Brian stabs Mike with the silver letter opener, killing him. Kate goes to her lover, who says with his dying breath that he loves her.

Kate tries to stab Brian, who easily grabs her and says that she'll understand... and then bites her. She locks herself in the bathroom and films herself using a camera, and then goes berserk. Kate finally gets control of herself and calls to Brian, saying that she understands. She goes outside and tells Brian that she understands... and then rips his throat out. Afterward, she covers Mike's corpse with a sheet and then sits down at the computer to record her message to the Winchesters. She tells that she and her friends weren't monsters and didn't want what happened to them. Kate then says that she's leaving and that she will eat animal hearts and never hurt anyone, and promises that they won't hear about her. Before signing off, Kate asks the Winchesters to give her a chance. Sam and Dean look at the computer and wonder what to do next. Sam suggests that they let her leave. Dean agrees, saying that they should give Kate a chance. They can always kill her if she fails to keep her promise. They collect all of the evidence that werewolves were there and leave. Outside of town, Kate hitches a ride to the border and then walks away along the railroad tracks.


 * -|9=


 * -|10= In Paper Moon, Sam and Dean check on a case in Durham, Washington, where a string of bodies have been described as having their throats slashed and their hearts extracted. Upon getting information on the cases they came to suspect a werewolf is involved. Eventually they are able to track the beast to a farm, where they find dead chickens that have been partially eaten. Going into the bar Dean finds a woman talking to someone on the phone; she senses Dean behind her and runs straight into Sam. They are shocked to discover she is Kate, the werewolf they let go two years earlier.

Both are disappointed Kate could not ignore her werewolf urges like she claimed she would. While briefly confused by their comments, Kate willingly confesses she was the one who committed the actions, saying she ultimately did not have the will to carry out a normal life. Dean prepares to shoot her, but Sam stops him. While they argue Kate is able to free herself and runs away. Having taken her phone, Dean and Sam are able to trace her to a hotel she is staying at.

The following morning they apparently see her leaving the hotel and walking after a man. When they hold her at gunpoint, however, they discover a different woman who feigns ignorance on what they want; when their guard is let down as they test her, she attacks, revealing herself as a werewolf. Before she can kill either one of them, Kate appears and stops her, though she won't let Dean kill her. Kate reveals the woman is her sister Tasha, who she confesses to turning. Furious by her action, they take her to a cafe so she can explain.

Kate says that after becoming a werewolf she tried to avoid her family, knowing she could never explain what had happened to her. when she discovered Tasha had been in a fatal car accident, she went to the hospital with the sole intention of saying goodbye. But her desire for companionship caused her to make a decision of poor judgment: she turned Tasha so she could leave and took her with the intention of teaching her to be a werewolf without the urges of killing. However, Tasha did not take to the teachings: Kate returned to her hotel and was horrified to find Tasha had killed a woman. Despite this, she tried to help Tasha, rationalizing that since she is the one to turn Tasha, she is responsible. She firmly believes she can help her sister if given the chance, but Dean feels she does not have the willingness to kill her sister should things go too far. He then claims to have a cure for lycanthropy, but Kate will have to lead them to Tasha. Kate believes them.

While on the way to a cabin where Tasha would go to, Dean and Sam have another discussion about whethere either of them are truly ready for hunting, as they both have to face their actions they committed. Once arriving at the cabin, Dean handcuffs Kate to the car, revealing their deception. While Kate is furious they are not giving her sister another chance, Dean sharply retorts that when a person commits terrible acts, they can't come back from them, as they are too far gone. They leave a pleading Kate in the car as they head in, guns at the ready. Sam finds Tasha in her room. She is unafraid that he will shoot because she has two allies with her. The brothers are held at gunpoint by werewolves who Tasha turned, creating her own pack.

Kate comes in and is shocked to see what Tasha has done. Tasha is remorseless, instead being buoyed by the power she now has as a werewolf. She wants Kate to kill Sam and eat his heart as a sign she is with the pack, but Kate refuses. Tasha has the men take Sam and Dean out of the room so she can convince her sister of their new cause, though Sam and Dean are eventually able to dispose of them. At the same time Tasha tries to no avail to get Kate interested in the life of an unhinged werewolf, though Kate feigns it long enough to stab a stunned Tasha with the silver blade. Upset with her action she leaves before Sam and Dean can find her. Later on Kate calls them from a phone booth. They agree that so long as Kate keeps her promise to not kill humans, they will leave her alone.


 * -|11= In Red Meat, Sam and Dean battle a pair of werewolves. They are both successfully killed by Sam.

That night, as British Men of Letters protocol, Mick returns to the hospital to kill Hayden with a lethal injection of silver nitrate. As Mick goes to inject Hayden, she awakens, transforms into a werewolf and attacks Mick, clawing open his shoulder before Mick kills her with the silver nitrate injection. Justin then decides to kidnap Claire to turn her into a werewolf as well. Sam and Dean are able to arrive at their location through a tracking device left in Claire's coat by Mick. By then, Claire has begun transforming. Mick stabs Justin with a syringe in order to extract live blood and use it as a possible cure for Claire. Justin fights back but is shot dead by Mick with a silver bullet. Though the werewolf has never be used on humans before, it proved successful, turning Clair back into a human.
 * -|12= In Ladies Drink Free, a werewolf named Justin (Werewolf), being the sole survivor of the pack after an attack from the British Men of Letters, decides to make more werewolves to start his own pack. He finds a girl named Hayden Foster and bites her. Her brother Ben Foster witnesses the scene and Justin kill him. Sam and Dean along with Mick Davies pick up on the case. Mick Davies. The three run into Claire Novak, also working the hunt. While the Winchesters talk to Hayden's mother, Mick, disguised as a doctor, examines Hayden's wounds and finds her bite which he lies about to the Winchesters.


 * -|13= In Wayward Sisters, a werewolf named Ed along with his pack, while operating in Iowa, kidnapped a girl named Amanda Fitzmartin for food. Ed enjoyed tormenting Amanda though his male pack mate told him off.

They were interrupted by a vehicle pulling up and a knock at the door. Ed's pack mate signaled him to check it out and the person on the other side told Ed that it was a delivery. Ed opened the door, telling the delivery person that they had the wrong house. The delivery person, a hunter named Claire Novak, told Ed that his name was right on the box. Seeing that it was addressed to Mr. Werewolf, Ed realized that she was a hunter. Before Ed could do more than yell at her, Claire blasted Ed in the chest with a shotgun loaded with silver buckshot that she had hidden in the box, killing him. She then killed his two pack mates.

In Breakdown, a werewolf is seen auctioning online for human body parts along with other monsters.

Known Werewolves
There have been twenty five werewolves on the series:
 * Alpha Werewolf
 * Asa's Attacker
 * Bess Fitzgerald
 * Brandon
 * Brian Wilcox
 * Charlie
 * Claire Novak
 * Corbin and Michelle's Captors
 * Corbin Tilghman
 * Ed
 * Ed's Male Pack Mate
 * Ed's Female Pack Mate
 * Garth Fitzgerald IV
 * Glen
 * Hayden Foster
 * Jim Myers
 * Jobah
 * Joy Myers
 * Joy Myers' father
 * Julian Duval
 * Justin
 * Kate
 * Ludensky
 * Madison
 * Michael Wheeler
 * Pat
 * Rose
 * Rose's Bodyguard
 * Russ
 * Tasha
 * Travis
 * Violet Duval

Appearances

 * Season 1
 * Wendigo
 * Skin
 * Shadow
 * Season 2
 * Heart
 * Hollywood Babylon
 * Season 4
 * Monster Movie
 * After School Special
 * Sex and Violence
 * It's A Terrible Life
 * The Monster at the End of This Book
 * Season 6
 * All Dogs Go To Heaven
 * Season 8
 * Bitten
 * Southern Comfort
 * Man's Best Friend With Benefits
 * Season 9
 * Sharp Teeth
 * Bloodlines
 * Season 10
 * Paper Moon
 * Season 11
 * Red Meat
 * Season 12
 * Celebrating The Life Of Asa Fox
 * Ladies Drink Free
 * Twigs & Twine & Tasha Banes
 * Who We Are
 * Season 13
 * Wayward Sisters
 * Breakdown
 * ScoobyNatural
 * Bobby Singer's Guide to Hunting

Trivia

 * Have been mentioned more often than any other monster (13 times), even vampires, but have only appeared 8 times.
 * The brothers have spared 5 monsters over the course of the show, 4 of which were werewolves.
 * Werewolves' depiction in anime is slightly different: Though at first werewolves depicted as human-like creature with claws, teeth, and eyes similar to that of wolves like original TV Series version's, it was an incomplete transformation: The fully transformed werewolf is more like anthropomorphic wolves with brown fur and more wolf-like head, depiction which more faithful with their traditional depiction in myth and popular culture.
 * When killing werewolves, the Winchesters tend to kill them with silver knives more often than silver bullets.
 * While the Winchesters only met regular werewolves growing up and in Heart, they have only ever encountered pureblood werewolves since.