The Twilight Saga is best known for its sparkling vampires, but Stephanie Meyer also gave us an interesting look at the mysterious and complex world of the Quileute Werewolves. Although technically shape-shifters, they became a key part of the story and for many fans, were some of the best parts of the entire franchise.
Yet, over the years, there have been a couple of confusing things about the werewolves that have been keeping fans up at night. Therefore, we have put together a list of ten things that still don't make sense about them.
Why Do They Only Start To Phase When Vampires Are Close?
The Quileute Werewolves have a long, rich, and complicated history that started with a chief named Taha Aki who was the first real shape-shifter. After many years, his third wife sacrificed herself to a vampire in order to save the tribe. Over time members of the tribe only phased when vampires were near.
The lore around this was vague and did not completely explain their link to vampires. The werewolves' origin long predates their first encounter with what they called the "cold ones" and it cannot be that vampires have been the only significant danger to their tribe. Also, vampire venom is weirdly dangerous to them and it is also never explained.
Why Do They Smell Bad To Vampires?
When Bella turns into a vampire, she is surprised to learn that Jacob and the rest of his pack don't smell so good. The rest of the Cullen's have often been described as having a "wet dog" smell.
Besides it being very insulting there is no reason why vampires have such a strong reaction to their smell. Given that both species' origin stories have nothing to do with each other, it would make no sense that vampires would be so heavily affected by their smell.
Why Are There No Elder Werewolves?
One of the best things about being a shape-shifter is that you are technically immortal as long as you keep on phasing. Yet, not only are there no elder werewolves in the story, many people in the tribe, even Jacob, didn't even believe in their existence.
The last known werewolf pack before Jacob's was in the 1930s when Ephraim Black made a deal with the Cullen's in order to ensure peace. However, this would mean that not a single vampire had ever crossed their paths for over 70 years and that not even one of the shapeshifters wanted to live for a little longer.
Hair Length And Wolf Fur
The werewolves in Twilight already have a complicated physiology and for some reason, the length of their human hair also determines the thickness of their fur as wolves. Therefore, many of the shape-shifters have short hair.
This is strange and an inconsequential thing about werewolves that doesn't only not make sense but added no real value to the story except for giving Jacob a new haircut.
What Do They Do For Money?
Being a werewolf seems like a full-time job but it certainly doesn't pay. The werewolves are also known for being able to eat their weight in food in order to keep up with their metabolism.
Yet, it is not clear if they had steady jobs to continue feeding themselves. Perhaps they lived off the kindness of their families and loved ones but there is no way that they could continue living like that.
They Don't Stop Ruining Their Clothes
Overall, being a werewolf looks like a far better choice than being a blood-sucking vampire. However, they must spend a fortune on clothing. In the movies, they are shown consistently ripping through their clothes.
Sometimes, they may get undressed first and have the foresight to leave it in the woods but that just means that any animal has access to it. Given that it is never clear how they make their money, it is a wonder that they even have any clothes left at all.
The Alpha Voice
In the Twilight franchise, being in a werewolf pack doesn't seem all too bad. However, using the alpha voice, the alpha can force the rest of the pack to do whatever he likes and they will have no choice but to follow him, regardless of how horrific the thing may be.
No one likes being told what to do but being physically unable to resist a command is absolutely terrifying. It makes no sense that such powerful beings can be at the whims of just one man.
Everything About Imprinting
One of the stranger aspects of the wolves is how they find their soulmates — imprinting. The werewolves feel an uncontrollable and instantaneous pull towards their imprintee. The imprintee then becomes the most important thing in the world to them.
Between the lack of consent from both parties, the idea of imprinting on children, and the fact that they can get so angry that the maim their soulmates, the whole thing has never made any sense.
The Reasons For Imprinting Also Don't Add Up
Although a conclusive explanation is never given for imprinting, there are two main vague beliefs around it. It can either be to ensure a stronger bloodline or to assist the shape-shifter by being his strength and support.
Yet, Jacob imprinted on the half-vampire Renesmee and no one knows if it is even possible for her to have children. Sam had to leave Leah, when as a fellow wolf and his long-time girlfriend, could have made a much stronger and formidable pair.
Leah Being The Only Female Werewolf
If there is one character in the Twilight Saga who deserved better it was Leah Clearwater. As the only female shape-shifter in history, she easily suffered the most out of all the werewolves. She had to stay telepathically linked to her ex-boyfriend, may not have been able to have children, and felt responsible for the death of her father.
Yet, never is there given an explanation as to why she was the only female shape-shifter nor does it add anything significant to the storyline. She could have easily been one of thousands of female werewolves and her role in the story would have been exactly the same.