Waif: Dabbles and Ideas

Like, Orion isn't socially awkward (unlike Soren), but because his time is divided between constantly being on the run due to being from the Divine Moon pack, and also him looking after his young son... Orion and Toby have a very close bond.

To the point where Toby can confront Orion about liking Soren, and also later call Soren out for being an angsty piece of shit reguarding Orion. That kid is a ride or die for his Daddy (and also later his Papa).

In a series full of gay characters, I feel like Lucas/Luke is the one character who really embodies queerness. Let me explain.

In both his Mafia series (Lucas) and Werewolf iteration (Luke), he has to traverse prejudices that the other characters do not. He's also much more self knowledgeable.

In the Mafia storyline, Lucas is the only character to experience clear and visceral homophobia. The other main characters all start out so resoundingly in the closet that they never even realize they're gay until they meet "their person." At which point wealth and status protect them. Gideon, Noah and Andrew all believe themselves to be straight at first. Only Lucas truly knows himself.

(Granted, while Gideon & Noah seem just generally ignorant of their own sexualities, Andrew is openly homophobic... which makes me think he had some self-awareness mixed with self-hatred going on before he met Lucas, probably going back to his family.)

But Lucas has known he's gay from the beginning, and has suffered the accompanying, damaging predujecies in both his personal and professional life. To the point that he's practically blacklisted from acting at the start of the second season of the Mafia storyline.

Taking this further, from Lucas being the only openly gay character from the begining of his Mafia arc, I'd likewise say that Luke is the only gender-queer character in the Werewolf arc.

Luke is very comfortable in his ballgown persona in public and at various events, displaying ease and gender fluidity.

Moreover, Eugene recognizes Luke's silhouette in the gown, whereas Soren (who knew Luke when he was Eugene's parter, before Luke vanished for six years) does not recognize him in traditionally masc clothes and shorter hair– implying that Luke presented predominantly as fem in the past, when he was in Eugene and Soren's inner circle.

Finally, as far as plot, Luke carries the weight of being part of the "forbidden" Witch clan, which was seemingly all but exterminated a century before. He remains. His existence is a "social taboo." And he is living and raising a child despite all the adversity.

Noah, the moment he learns a single personal thing about Gideon, makes him his late mother's pasta. (Zero chill.)

Orion, the moment he's moved into Soren Vale's pack, is defending the Vale pack maids against Kathy, the Gold Sand pack heiress.

Gideon, when not a ruthless Mafa Boss, is an absolute embarrassing troll. Like, he brings Noah to his mother's grave to "Introdice his wife." A TROLL.

Soren meanwhile is ride or die, calling Orion his mate at their first public appearance together. A SIMP.

Gideon's subordinates immediately accept Noah. They really like him, and they're so happy Gideon is getting out of an arranged marriage because he fell in love with Noah.

Meanwhile, Andrew comes from a distinctly homophobic family, where his brother Julian threatens to disinherit him if he continues his relationship with Lucas.

And it all comes down to their fathers. Gideon grew up cherishing his mother and clearly seeing his father as the brutal man he was– someone to be overthrow.

Meanwhile, Julian emulates his & Andrew's dead father, to the point of sobbing when he feel's he's failed their father by not preventing Andrew's marriage to Lucas.

Family fanart.

No, Orion doesn't say any of that to defend himself. Instead, as he's being dragged out of the room, he spends those last precious moments warning Soren (now his jailer) that Luke is coming for him. To be careful.

Its to the point that Orion is BEHIND BARS IN THE VALE DUNGEONS and STILL trying to protect Soren.

Who experimented on Luke? The mad scientist (left) whom we see experimenting on Luke looks exactly like Andrew's brother (right) from the Mafia storyline, Julian. Andrew is Eugene's counterpart, which would suggest that the scientist is also Eugene's brother. Given that Eugene and Luke were partners, it would certainly explain Luke's sense of betrayal towards Eugene.

Now, if the scientist is also the cultist we see at the end of season 1, then the 1000 year old alpha whom he is trying to resurrect could very well be... FELIX.

Also, will we ever see Orion's wolf? There's some speculation in the series comment section that, as members of the Divine Moon Pack, Orion and Luke shouldn't have wolves, and that Luke only has one due to the experiments done on him in the past. In fact, his wolf may come from the Witch Clan side of his bloodline. Whether or not this is true, or the show is just saving Orion's wolf for a big reveal later, remains to be seen.