of all the species in crescent harbor, werewolves and shifters are the only two who fall under the alpha, beta, and omega subset. it is tied to their animalistic nature, causing them to have both an altered anatomy and instincts.

desingnations are uncertain until they reach puberty, at which point it will become clear which group they belong to.

alphas
alphas are typically born larger, stronger, and more dominant. after the start of puberty - usually around ages fifteen and sixteen - the males genitalia grows much bigger than betas and omegas and a ring of muscles, otherwise known as a knot, forms at the base of the penis. when mating, the knot swells and can be pushed up into their mate, which will lock them together for a short period of time (generally ten to fifteen minutes) until the swelling goes down; removing the knot before that can be incredibly painful for both parties involved. they are incredibly fertile, and also go into a rut once every three months. when this happens, they experience an almost uncontrollable need to mate, to breed. a rut typically lasts for a day or two, though it varies from alpha to alpha.

alpha females, which have been a bit rarer than alpha males, actually have a retractable penis that grows to full length when aroused, but when inside the body it appears as an enlarged clitoris. their ovaries are replaced with testes, so they can get omega and beta females pregnant; unfortunately, they are unable to get pregnant despite having a uterus.

betas
betas are the group closest to what would be considered "average humans". they are still susceptible to the same scents and pheromones as their counterparts as they produce them as well, but it is easier for them to resist their pull. while they do not go into full heats or ruts like alphas and omegas, they do experience them to a milder, less intense degree. female betas also do not need to be in heat to become pregnant like female omegas. beta males can impregnant both beta and omega females while beta females can be impregnated by beta males and both alpha males and females. it should be noted, however, that the likelihood of a beta male successfully impregnating an omega female is lower, making them ideal heat partners for single or unmated omega females.

omegas
omegas are seen as the weakest distinction and are often smaller than most betas and almost all alphas, though that isn't always the case. they are typically the more nurturing and submissive types of the world, though again, not always. sometime around their sixteenth birthday, an omega will go into heat for the first time and then once a month for every month after that. like alphas, they will also possess an uncontrollable need to mate and it is the only time they are able to become pregnant. it can be an altogether uncomfortable experience for omegas. in addition to the surge of hormones, painful cramps and an increase in body temperature often occur.

most single or unmated omegas often choose to lock themselves in their homes and endure their heats alone rather than risk any kind of unwanted attention or pregnancy. while there is nothing that can be done to suppress their cycles, there are certain herbs that can help make the process a little more bearable. it can take up to a week for an omega to know if they are pregnant once their heat is over. if they have not bled by that time, it's highly likely that they are indeed pregnant.

omega males go through the same heat, and though they still have a penis and testes, they can also self-lubricate from a gland inside the anus, much like females can in their vaginas. however, they do not have a uterus and cannot get pregnant.