The Quileute Werewolves

The Quileute Werewolves are one of the two supernatural creatures referred to as werewolves in the Twilight Saga. Although the Quileutes call themselves werewolves, they are not werewolves in the traditional mythological sense. They are actually shape-shifters who take the form of a wolf. Unlike the Children of the Moon, mature Quileute werewolves are able to phase by choice. Another fundamental difference between Quileute werewolves and the Children of the Moon is that Quileutes in there wolf form retain their human minds, reasoning abilities, and personalities. The Quileute werewolves consider themselves the designated protecters of their human tribe. They see vampires as enemies to themselves and all humans

Inheritance
Not every member of the Quileute tribe has the potential to transform into a werewolf. Only those who can trace a direct bloodline back to the first shape-shifter, Taha Aki, are born weith the potential to become shape-shifters themselves. The first transformation occurs between the onset of puberty and approximately age twiety-five, and is based on two factors: heritage and the proximity of vampires.

The direct decendants of Taha Aki are born with twenty-four chromosomal pairs rather than the twenty-three pairs of a normal human. This extra chromosome will not have any effect on the carrier if he or she is not