Being Russian is one reason to be hardcore, being a werewolf is another. Leo and his brother Ivan were infected by the 'Alpha' strain of said blessing. It is different in many ways, that being the human form has retractable fingernails, canine teeth and animal eyes, evidently revealing his or her paranormal nature. The lycan form is agile, muscled and has claws the size of rebar pipes and can be set on by either the full moon, emotion or pain. Silver nullifies their fast regeneration and makes them very, very pissed off.

They've been hunted down by hunters, hunted down criminals and spent time in the Gulag. Right now they just want to drink, but the world won't let them be.