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The Veylockes are committed to being the human half of that pact. Part of their commitment is not to turn, or at least not turn voluntarily.

Of course plenty of humans are turned against their will. Considering how many generations the Veylockes have been fighting vampires, there are almost certainly some Veylockes who ARE vampires. Abolish was in a truly messed-up situation in Oakhurst, and if he'd chosen vampirism to get everyone out, he wouldn't have been ostracized.

But it does mean that choosing a life as a vampire is a big sacrifice for Abolish. Being a human that stands with vampires is a big part of his identity. If he turned, he would no longer be the human standing up for the needs of humans both against and alongside vampires. He would no longer truly be a Veylocke. It was a lot to ask of him.

(The I think is therefore more about how I think it applies from the very start of the series, rather than coming to the conclusion later)

But it occurred to me today that Owen's pre-vampire existence is one he actually would have seen represented in stories, but specifically as a Test.

There is a very old trope of a powerful entity -- often a witch, angel, or god -- disguising themselves as a poor old woman, or a desperate beggar, and knocking on the door of the well-to-do.

If they show the beggar the kindness demanded of them by the rules of Hospitality, then they pass the test and are rewarded. If they fail they are punished, and often severely: their line is cursed, their house falls to ruin, people die.

And it's interesting, isn't it, that of all the people in Oakhurst, it's only Louis that accepted Owen into his home and fed him according to the rules of Hospitality. Everyone else refused him entry, refused him food, kept him far away. Of all the people in Oakhurst, only Louis passed the test. Everyone else failed it.

And so, when the poor, diseased lumberjack revealed himself to be/became something powerful--

Well.

It also makes certain ways he pushes people interesting. He's testing them to see where their breaking points are, yes. I personally think he does it because it makes him feel more in control, more powerful, and lets him protect himself against inevitable mistreatment (if they pass his tests they're safe, if they don't then they were always evil, that sort of thing) and justify his own abuse (they reacted poorly -> my anger and resentment and mistreatment of them is justified)