* the derane werewolves.
The Derane family’s blood is rich with the wolf gene, which in their case presents itself with one interesting peculiarity: most frequently (and, really, practically always), Derane wolves sport a pure dark grey coat. They’re also quite large, with slight variances from individual to individual, but overall, when two of them are in the same place, it can be difficult to tell them apart without previous knowledge of their little quirks and other few identifying details, physical or otherwise.
MARKUS DERANE.
Alpha of what came to be known as the Great Lakes Pack, Markus was a fearsome werewolf, who worked up the power ladder by means of brutality, manipulation and a lot of bloodshed. The Great Lakes Pack is actually one major pack based out of Northeast Illinois and Indiana with many smaller “chapters” peppered through the Great Lakes region, many of which were forced into submission by Markus’ lot, with their leaders ultimately answering to him. This way, he ensured great authority over the whole territory with not many up for the challenge of taking it from him. Physically, Markus is massive in size, roped with muscle and covered disheveled fur that gives him an overall grisly appearance, only made worse by the scars on his face and his tendency to be covered in blood, be it fresh or dry. He is a very aggressive and unpredictable wolf and man with a viciousness that’s hard to match in battle. Eventually, though, he was murdered by his eldest son, Charles, with the aid of his younger one, Jacob, when they twenty one and twenty, respectively. Thanks to a combination of the element of surprise, skill, and luck, Charles and Jake managed to survive the fight, with Charles delivering the coup de grâce that would eventually lay the groundwork for his reputation as a killer of Alphas.
The Great Lakes Pack was dissolved by Charles and Jake’s own demand and the chapters “freed”, thusly allowing them to become fully autonomous. Many did, and the whole thing disintegrated, though it remains in history as one of the bloodiest periods of the Great Lakes region for werewolves, and werewolf history in general.
CHARLES DERANE.
Charles’ infamy is only as great as the infamy of those he has killed – which is to say, rather vast. While it’s implicit (Markus never said it out loud), he was groomed to “succeed his father” in the line of power, or at the very least, be his father’s right hand. That didn’t stop Charles from being the victim of Markus’ relentless abuse and violence, though, sprinkled in between the violence Markus forced him to do unto others. Hence, it comes as no surprise Charles utterly hated the man, and eventually, fed up with his ways, killed him. Wanting his father’s entire legacy gone, he broke up his pack and kept other power-hungry wolves (most certainly his father’s assorted lieutenants) from seizing control by challenging them into fights, all of which he won, some concluding with the other wolf surrendering, some with the other wolf dying. Regardless of the outcome, Charles is best known for skill as a fighter, outmatching, seemingly, that of his father’s, and his ruthlessness.
What did come as a surprise, though, was how after this, it only took a few years of going lone to join another pack – in the South, and as a beta, no less. The Predators pack (also known as the Southeast Kentucky Pack), already notorious, garnered even more attention from this yet unexplained fact. He’s also part of the MC, doubling as the beta equivalent of (co-)vicepresident.
Charles, physically, is just as big as his father, and though bulky, he’s not as bulky as him, and known for his dexterity – his movements are very efficient and graceful, there’s nothing clumsy about him, and despite being a wolf, his mannerisms are more accurately regarded as feline. You don’t hear Charles coming unless he wants you to hear him, and this applies even to his human form. Unlike Markus, Charles never really loses his cool, not even during altercations. It’s probably why, during scraps, he’s so effective at finding his opponent’s weak spots.
He’s pretty reserved, fully trusting very few and opening up to even fewer. Because of his snarky, sometimes insolent personality, he’s known to clash with other dominant wolves, particularly Alphas and betas from other packs, often entirely for his amusement, though he can do diplomacy well, and he’s an excellent second in command. He’s not above affection with people he does like, either.
JACOB DERANE.
Very few people know this, but the reason for Markus Derane’s brutal demise, the immediate incentive, at least, was his own intention of killing Jacob. Jake, dominant but unaggressive as a whole, was pegged as weak by his father and many others, at a time and place rank was won with violence and cruelty earned you respect. When he was attacked by his father, Jacob defended himself, and Charles soon joined him in the battle. Because of distortions and rumors, this fragment of the story is quite ignored.
After the events of the fight, Jake too went lone like Charles, but never rejoined a pack. Odd, considering Jake’s social nature and Charles’ reclusiveness, plus the many opportunities he had to start or take over his own pack, but he grew a distaste for it that he’s yet to wear off, and instead formed a small unit made up of his husband and his biological son, Marlon, who carries the grey fur gene.
Jake is extremely friendly, both as a human and as a wolf. He’ll hardly ever refuse pettings from anyone and he’s quick to initiate affection. He commands a lot of trust due to his charisma and lack of stereotypical dominant pride. And while he’s not quick to fight, he too grew up under Markus Derane and the expectations of a large pack – he knows how to fight, he just doesn’t resort to it often. Underestimating him is the mistake many make because they fail to understand this, and they quickly come to regret it, especially when they threaten him or worse, his own. While smaller than Charles and Markus, he’s a strong and sturdy wolf with a very powerful bite, and he’s knocked down wolves bigger than him with little effort.
CAEL DERANE.
Charles’ son, born from a hook up between him and a transient female werewolf. Cael grew up in the Predators pack, in the gang, and it shows. Going from a slightly withdrawn pup with a gifted skill for hunting, to an impassive young man and wolf, his similarity to Charles in physicality and demeanor is greatly emphasized, and it’s expected he’ll naturally take over the role of beta once the time comes. Nevertheless, there’s still a few key differences between Charles and Cael that are important to learn, and the most immediate one is that Cael is capable of losing his temper. When it happens, it’s explosive, a hot red outburst that can easily turn into physical violence. It can take people by surprise sometimes, due to its ruthless intensity, but it happens rarely, and mostly out of possesiveness and jealousy, both of which Cael has in spades. Once he’s made his claim of someone, he is very protective of the person and threats aren’t tolerated. Others are subtler, but Cael is somehow even more reticent than his father, and, unless you’ve provoked him, more polite – albeit in an almost abrupt fashion.
Physically, he’s a little leaner, but just as muscled. He has no prejudice towards other supernatural creatures or humans, and those he likes are welcome to pet him or touch him. Anyone else is better off not attempting physical contact. He’s almost eerie with how inexpressive he is, and very few are allowed to see him being otherwise.
Cael bears the burden of decades of Derane history he’s completely uninvolved with. He knows the true story and all the half true stories and all the utterly false stories. As the son of the “Alpha-killer”, he’s instantly respected and even feared, but also as quick to be challenged as his father is by wolves outside of his pack.