First, to dispel the illusions. Werewolves are not part of a cultural myth; they are not imaginary monsters; they are not mentally ill humans nor, in fact, human at all. They are an entirely separate species, as different from you and I as the dolphin or the bird. They spend part of their time in human form and part of their time in wolf form. In human form they are exceptionally attractive specimens, with particularly striking eyes and hair. The hair of the males is almost always worn below their shoulders; the females usually have thick, lustrous locks that fall to their waists or lower. They are usually tall and rather lean. Their eye and hair color, along with any scars or other distinguishing characteristics, always transfer with them to wolf form.

The werewolf senses of hearing and smell are approximately five hundred times more acute than humans'. They have excellent night vision. They are particularly adept technologically--you would be surprised how many advances in the computer and telecommunications industries originated in some werewolf's laboratory--and are very quick at learning any skill in which they have an interest. Their reflexes and physical stamina are extraordinary. No human, in any contest they could devise, would have a chance against a werewolf.

Forget silver bullets, by the way. Werewolves, although they do have some accelerated healing capabilities, die of the same causes humans do. The difficulty lies in finding them. Their enhanced senses and superintelligence make it easy for them to conceal themselves from anyone except another werewolf--and sometimes even from other werewolves.

Werewolves do not in their natural state kill humans. They have a strict moral code and a much more refined degree of civilization than do humans. Violence, while certainly not unknown to them, is never directed at the weak. Werewolves do not use weapons. They are forbidden, by ethical and practical codes, to attack in human form.

One more thing. Male werewolves are very sexy. Some human women find them almost irresistible.

Werewolves are superfast, superstrong, superintelligent... but they're also some of the most playful creatures on the planet. Their senses of humor are delightful, and it's rare to find a werewolf who can't eventually find something amusing or ironic in even the most gloomy situation. Werewolves are supreme egoists--not without some justification, I admit--and highly competitive. It goes without saying that any or all of these traits can be used against them...

Werewolves mate for life. Although they are extremely sensuous creatures and have a much more relaxed attitude toward physical pleasure than humans do, the actual act of mating is an almost sacred experience to them, resulting in an intense empathic and telepathic bond between the mated couple that lasts for the rest of their lives. Under most circumstances, werewolves mate only in the wolf form. In some extremely rare cases, however, it is possible for certain werewolves to mate while in human form, therefore allowing them to love and join with a human.

These "mixed marriages," if you will, are so unusual that werewolf history barely records them, werewolf memory barely admits the possibility. It is easy to love a werewolf, but to be loved by one in return is rare indeed. The human who is lucky enough to know this kind of love will never be the same again.

An essential part of the werewolf's nature--in fact the essential part-- is the Change, which is a werewolf euphemism for the ability to transform from human to wolf form and back again. Werewolves are born with this ability, although it sometimes doesn't become fully functional until they are a year or two old. Werewolves can change at will, or the Change can be triggered by any intense or primal emotion--rage, fear, or sexual arousal, for example.

I've touched on this before, but to witness the Change is the single most transcendental experience a human being can have. The beauty of it is so intense, so penetrating and awe-inspiring, that there is actually a hypnotic quality to it. Again, very few humans have been allowed the privilege of witnessing this miracle.

It is important to remember that for all their exceptional characteristics, werewolves are creatures of nature, just as humans are. They feel disappointments just as keenly, desires just as intensely, and frustrations just as sharply as we do. They are often impatient, sometimes abrupt. They are slow to anger, but their tempers can be ferocious. To love them is to love them for all that they are, and this is much, much easier than it might seem...