a/b/o info

SECONDARY GENDER DYNAMICS
ALPHA (α): Before, alphas were typically the preferred presentation due to their innate strength, leadership qualities, and generally being well respected in society. Stereotypically, they often had more high paying corporate or physically demanding jobs. They are known to be dominant in terms of personality, but not all are. Due to their hormones, they are prone to being more hot headed and brutish when their rut occurs. Both anatomically male and female alphas are able to impregnate omegas and their rut can be triggered by coming into contact with an omega in heat OR a competing alpha in rut. They also have an incredibly small chance to carry children if they produce enough estrogen, but usually that is not the case and they cannot go to term. See below for more in-depth breeding information.

- Prime: A rare designation of alpha which possesses an innate ability for leadership. Many of history's greatest warriors and pack leaders were Primes. Unlike other alphas, they have what is called a "compelling voice" or oppressive "aura" that can induce obedience in other wolves. If an Alpha Prime gives an order, most cannot resist the compulsion to follow it. Nowadays, this action is considered incredibly invasive, manipulative, and rude, though. So Primes are at risk of being stigmatized simply for what they are. Primes are also somewhat feared because it is believed they are more prone to ferocity (4/5).

BETA (β): Betas do not have the harsh fluctuations in demeanor that is common with the other secondary genders and are often praised for their calm, collected and mellow manner. Even their pheromones are naturally soothing to others. They do their best in intellectually stimulating fields like medicine and science, and are highly sought after in the workforce because they do not generally go through a period where their head will be clouded with the need for since their cycles tend to not be as unforgiving as that of other secondary genders. Their cycles are usually extremely mild and cannot be triggered by coming into contact with another wolf in heat/rut. Betas have the ability to both impregnate others and become pregnant themselves. They're often versatile, filling the role of whatever their partner needs at the time, and their cycle leans more to that chosen role. In other words, if a Beta is with a submissive partner, they may find themselves going through rut. Whereas if their partner is dominant, they may experience more heat-like symptoms during their cycle.

OMEGA (Ω): In prior generations, omegas were the least preferred presentation due to the trait of them being physically weak. However, we live in an age where our meat is fed vitamins and steroids and the need to hunt is obsolete, so this judgmental belief has largely disappeared. Omegas are considered to have more docile or submissive personalities, but not all are. They tend to work in more nurturing fields such as education and healthcare. They are self-lubricating and have the ability to become pregnant, sometimes referred to as being bred or mated. They are most fertile during their heat cycle. Their heats can be triggered by an alpha in rut OR another omega in heat. See below for more in-depth breeding information.

- Luna: A rare designation of omega which possesses an innate ability for leadership. In old times, Lunas were usually the respected mate of an Alpha Prime leader, but they have also been known to lead matriarchal packs themselves. Unlike other omegas, they have what is called a "compelling voice" that can induce obedience in other wolves. If a Luna gives an order, most cannot resist the compulsion to follow it. Like with Primes, doing this is considered extremely invasive. Generally, Luna's are thought to have better control over their inner wolf, but if they were to lose it, they could quickly become feral. (4/5).

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BREEDING CYCLES
Rut: Every few months, alphas go through a period called ‘rut’ which lasts 3-5 days. However, an alpha’s rut can be triggered unexpectedly because of a heat afflicted omega in their area or another alpha in rut that they see as a competitor. They experience intense arousal and are consumed by the drive to mate, which often makes them hot headed and easy to provoke.

Anatomically Male Alphas - During this time, male alphas produce the most and are able to ‘knot’ an omega to impregnate them. Knotting occurs only during an alpha’s rut cycle or when they are mating with an omega in heat. During mating, their partner’s pheromones interact with the alpha’s, causing the base of his to swell and prevents them from pulling out after . This ensures that the receptive partner stays filled with the copious amount of seed and increases the likelihood of pregnancy. At most, this lasts for thirty minutes, but usually only lasts a few minutes.

Anatomically Female Alphas - During rut, the female alpha’s oris becomes swollen and particularly sensitive. They have internal testes and when they , they release a small amount of potent . A female alpha does have a womb and can attempt to carry a child if they produce enough estrogen, but usually this always ends in miscarriage.

Heat: Every individual’s cycle is different, but generally the most receptive omegas go into heat bi-monthly and it lasts for 3-5 days. This is a very exhausting occurrence for everyone around the omega. The person in heat gives off a very alluring scent during this time in order to attract a mate. Fighting over an omega in heat is common. Not only does it drive the potential mates crazy, but the person in heat deliriously craves to be mated and the physical desire is nearly unbearable. This is especially frustrating for a non-bonded omega in heat and they often take “sick days” for the duration of their cycle and self-quarantine.

Anatomically Male Omegas - These omegas can carry children and have an extremely low chance of impregnating others via penetration. Their is not as potent and they usually have a higher success rate with invitro fertilization.

Anatomically Female Omegas - These omegas can only carry children.

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SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL INFORMATION
Pregnancy:  Unlike humans, a wolf gestates for six months. Pregnancy duration may not be less than two months in real OOC time! Roleplayers may extend the length of the pregnancy to fit their plot. Both natural and c-section births are allowed. Keep in mind that having a kid changes the couple’s lives entirely. You can’t simply have a baby and go about your business after like it doesn’t exist.

Fertility Treatment: Fertility treatments can increase the likelihood of conception in those with lower fertility rates. However, alpha pregnancies are usually associated with high miscarriage rate or very unstable pregnancies.

Suppressants: This world’s birth control! These are pills which suppress a heat and rut cycle. It is not an uncommon occurrence for alphas and omegas to choose to suppress their base urges in order to do their job more effectively and keep a clear head until they are ready to breed. This also prevents their breeding cycle from being accidentally triggered in the presence of someone else (though there is a 0.1% chance of this being ineffective). However, prolonged suppressant use is linked to lower fertility rates and unstable hormone levels. It is not recommended that wolves under the age of eighteen engage in regular suppressant use.

Scent Blockers: While pheromones are an important aspect of non-verbal communication in wolf form, it is considered rude to simply waft them all over the place without any consideration for those around you when it human form. Blocker patches can be worn over the user’s scent gland, located just at the base of the neck. It can actively neutralize their scent for 24 hours, provided the patch remains dry and intact.

Surrogacy/Invitro Fertilization: Couples of the same secondary gender are common in society (i.e. alpha/alpha or omega/omega.), but they cannot always conceive by natural means. When in doubt, they can find a surrogate capable of bearing their child or undergo invitro fertilization. Adoption is also a popular option.

Secondary Gender Transitioning: Sometimes a wolf's secondary gender may not align with how they identify. The medical field has come a long way in assisting these wolves. As presenting happens later in a wolf's teenage years, most have dormant ual organs of both genders until that time. When a wolf presents as an alpha or an omega, they simply have an influx of the respective hormones that stimulate the growth and production of either a knot or a womb. However, they retain vestigial organs of the opposing gender which can be stimulated via hormone replacement therapy and allow a wolf to transition to the gender they identify with.

There is also an old practice, crudely called "ing," which was used back in ancient times among packs that had a low presentation of betas or omegas. Pack alphas would take turns breeding a chosen alpha until a transition to omega would be invoked by the influx of hormones brought about by submission. This practice still exists (primarily sought out by alpha/alpha couples), but is usually done under the careful instruction and guidance of a ual therapist for the safety of both.

Heat/Rut Clinics: Though there is still a bit of a social stigma surrounding these clinics, they can be extremely helpful for unmated wolves. Professionals can guide a wolf through their cycle, sating their primal urges so that they can get back to daily life.

Ferocity Endemic: No matter how far removed they may be from their primal ancestors, a wolf is still wild. Outburts of mindless violence are not unheard of within the community when tensions run high. Some have better control over the beastial urges than others. When a wolf is at risk of going feral, the first symptoms are usually a mental fog and a short temper. If caught early enough, the crisis can be averted. If not, the symptoms can worsen to the point of the wolf being extremely reactive and eventually snapping, losing complete control over themselves. These episodes of ferocity are accompanied by black outs, so a wolf will not even recall what they did regardless of how destructive. Sometimes there isn't any coming back from this. If the wolf poses a risk to others, they may have to be captured and phamacologically subdued.

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OTHER WOLFISMS
Bonded Mates: When wolves find a partner, they may decide to become bonded mates. Their bond is consummated when the two leave their marks on each other (with a bite to the neck or nape, but it may also be in other erogenous zones). After this, a wolf can sense their partner’s feelings and thoughts through a telepathic link. Bonding is not taken lightly, as the wolf cannot be claimed by anyone else unless their previous mate dies or the mark fades over a lengthy time because they have fallen out of love. However, there have been known to be exceptions in the event of polyamorous relationships, where the mates bond by marking in different erogenous zones. After bonding, a wolf’s scent becomes extremely alluring to their mate, but becomes muted to others outside of breeding cycles.

Mating Run: A tradition that dates back to wolf origin. It has pretty dark history, where alphas would quite literally hunt mates (primarily omegas) by chasing them down through the forest. This often occurred after a pack would subjugate another pack in war times. However, in modern times, this has become a way for prospective mates to prove their devotion or for single wolves to find a partner. The Mating Run is hosted annually in August, taking place after the Flower Festival. Usually, during the aforementioned festival, mates who intend to participate in the Mating Run will exchange gifts to show their desire to court. If the gifts were accepted, it meant a willingness to move forward. In the past, alphas would traditionally shower gifts (usually meat, furs, hand crafted jewelry, and other material goods) on an omega over the course of the moon cycles between May to August to prove their ability to provide. However, nowadays, couples usually exchange scarfs worn around the wrist or neck, which becomes doused in their scent. Then when it comes time to participate in the Run, the couple will exchange the scarfs so their scent lingers on each other. This is also the last unspoken permission to move forward. The intended that plans to be chased will go into the tree-line, choose to shift or not, and wait for the signal that the chase has begun. At that point, the person pursuing will attempt to "catch" their partner and consummate the bond.

The Perigee Ball: A masquerade ball hosted in the Solarium. It is a grand gala, with many prominent families that attend. It is advertised as an open event where wolves outside of the pack may attend, but the guests are usually overwhelmingly members of the Sol pack. Guests do have to reserve their spot in advance, as the ballroom does have limited capacity, and there is often the speculation that the Sol pack prioritizes its own members so this has left others quite jaded. The ball is considered a rite of passage for many young couples, however, as it is how they publicly announce their courtship by displaying it to the community. After the final dance of the night, the couples will remove their masks and exchange them.

Nesting/Denning: When a wolf's breeding cycle gets near, many have the compulsion to create a safe space for themselves and potential mates. This can look very different from wolf to wolf, but often consists of bringing objects of comfort and familiarity into a single space where they plan to hunker down for the duration of their heat/rut. Wolves can become extremely territorial of this space, so it is always important to get their permission before attempting to enter it.

Scenting: Wolves all possess scent glands which give off a distinct aroma. The act of ‘scenting’ is a method of laying claim to a partner that is not as permanent as a bond mark. Basically, nuzzling against the scent gland will cause their partner’s scent to linger on them for a couple of days, warding off any other potential suitors. This also can lessen the severity of a heat/rut.

Pack Marks: Being a part of a pack is a very intimate thing for wolves. Usually, a pack wolf will bear the bite mark of their leader somewhere on their body. This is worn as a sign of pride of being accepted into the ranks when they come of age, but also serves as a means to bond them to the leader. This connection can be used to communicate empathically, but also to subdue a rowdy pack member if need be. As this is not a permanent mark, most packs have ceremonies to renew their commitment and the mark. However, as packs have grown large and less close-knit, this practice has become far less prevalent. Only those from small towns tend to bear a pack mark. If the member strays from the pack for long enough, the connection and mark will eventually fade.

Fights for Dominance: When a wolf is challenged or disrespected, they are expected to prove themselves by putting the offending wolf in their proper place. If they can’t, it could possibly mean losing the respect of packmates or even their rank. The winner is obviously considered the undisputed victor. Fights for Dominance also can occur over a mate.

Shows of Submission: Back in the day, it was expected of an omega to be subordinate and submissive to alphas. However, as more omegas came to hold prominent positions within a pack and household, this expectation became more unrealistic. While there are omegas who are naturally docile in the presence of an alpha, there are also ones who will not easily be made to submit. Betas and subordinate alphas are also known to show their submission in the presence of someone of higher authority. Some “Shows of Submission” include: offering your hand with your wrist upturned, baring of the throat, a 90 degree bow or sebae bow, and aversion of gaze. During a Fight for Dominance, a wolf can be forced to submit when they are bit or grabbed at the nape of their neck (an action known as "scruffing"), as the act releases a rush oxytocin.

Age Two
The pup will have their first, instinctual shift into wolf form, but they cannot control it. Parents must adapt to their child’s unpredictable form since they might spend an unknowable amount of their toddler years in one form or another.

Age Four
At this point, a pup experiences “shift pains” and will get the urge to shift, rather than it coming on without any control. This is when they can start to control their shifts. Though whether their parents can convince them to do it on cue is a different story~

Age Six
Generally by the time they enter primary school, a pup is able to fully control their shifting.

Age Twelve
Wolves begin to display the physical traits of their secondary gender. These are usually found during a routine medical exam (i.e. omegas are found to be developing a womb, alphas have a noted knot gland). This is known as ’presenting’. The latest presentations usually are age fifteen and are often due to the teen having too much stress in their life.

Age Seventeen
All omegas and alphas go through their first full breeding cycle (heat/rut). Those who do not are betas, but betas may also go through a less severe cycle called an ‘itch.’

Age Eighteen
The point at which wolves are considered adults. In families that uphold traditions from generations past, this is the point in which formal courtship occurs and they attempt to find a suitable mate for their child. However, this process has largely fallen out of favor.

Age Twenty One
Wolves usually get the drive to start mating and having children.

Age Twenty Nine
Unmated omega’s and alpha’s breeding cycles become unbearable and even painful, as their metaphorical biological clock begins ticking and reminds them to bear children while in their prime.

Age Thirty
Fertility rate drops in omegas and betas.

Age Forty Two
Unmated wolves experience their last breeding cycle before becoming infertile.