The Argent home remained quiet, the commotion of the night having died down.

Winnie walked along the length of the house with Chris, giving Scott and Allison time upstairs. She glanced over to him as they neared the basement, "What will you do now?"

"I think we're gonna go out of town for awhile," Argent told her. "Get some time away. We have roots in France, so maybe I'll take her there."

"Good," Winnie said with a light smile. "You both could use it."

Before Chris could reply, his eyes fell on the half open door to the basement. "Come on," he told her as he cautiously went in.

Winnie followed him down the stairs, worried one of the hunters she'd knocked out had gone downstairs to take care of the captive wolves.

Chris flicked on the basement light, fluorescence coating an empty room. The wires had been torn from the ceiling and strips of duct tape were crumpled on the floor. "They're gone."

Winnie let out a sigh of relief, "Thank god. They got out."

"Will they go back to Derek?" Chris curiously asked her.

"Not likely," Winnie replied with a shake of her head. "Erica and Boyd were on their way out. They were looking for another pack. I imagine that's where they were headed."

"Allison nearly killed them," Chris told her. "Isaac, she even went after you."

"A lot of things happened, Chris. She wasn't herself. None of us were." Winnie followed Chris back up the steps, the two having planned on releasing Erica and Boyd. "It was Gerard's game. He was playing with us and for a while, he was winning."

"You know," Chris shut the basement door behind them, "you've got a knack for this. Not your shine, but-"

"I don't want to be a hunter," Winnie quickly told him as the pair stopped in the kitchen. "Not when my friends are supernatural, just as I am."

"You don't have to seek out a fight, Winnie. But you should be able to protect yourself and your friends. Like tonight, you had your gun and you were willing to fight." Chris leaned on the island, watching her. "Maybe it started as a game, for you to survive against Gerard, but you have skills. You have a talent for this."

"I just learned how to shoot a gun-"

"In a matter of days, Winnie. You have an unlimited supply of weapons so you can become versatile. You can learn quickly and proficiently." Chris looked hopeful, "You can protect yourself and your friends. This town is hell bent on ruining lives at some point or another."

Winnie hesitated, thinking about what he was saying. "If you're leaving, how would I learn? You're the only hunter I trust."

"Self defense classes," Chris offered. "Have your father teach you about the weapons he sells. Get your wolf pals to help you with hand to hand. Do it your way, and do it right."

Winnie halfly laughed, running a hand along her jaw. "You make it sound so easy."

"It won't be," he told her. "But it'll be worth it. I'll put together some things for you, okay? Enough to keep yourself protected. How does that sound?"

She nodded softly, "All right, Argent. I'll take you up on that." Winnie shook his hand, still smiling.

"Good kid."

"There's no such thing as fate."

Winnie looked up above her, her eyebrows furrowing. She could hear Scott's voice, more audible than a thought.

"There's no such thing as werewolves."

Chris glanced to Winnie, "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, yeah," Winnie cleared her throat, motioning towards the foyer, "you should go up and see Allison. I think she and Scott were nearly done talking."

Argent agreed, patting Winnie's shoulder before heading towards the staircase.

Winnie lingered in the house, waiting for Scott by the door. She shifted her shoulder, wincing lightly against her ripped stitches. She smiled as Scott came downstairs, "There's the man of the hour."

Scott scoffed lightly, shaking his head. "More like you, Jones. You kicked ass tonight."

Winnie opened the front door, Scott slinging an arm around her shoulder as they got outside. "Shooting an impenetrable lizard while running like a mad woman."

"It was totally a lot cooler than you think," Scott assured as they headed down the sidewalk towards Winnie's. "That face off with Allison was kind of terrifying. Would you have actually shot her?"

"If she came at me, yes," Winnie admitted. "I wouldn't have killed her, but I would've stopped her."

"And you shot Gerard, right?" asked Scott. "That was pretty bad ass if you ask me."

Winnie gave a soft shrug, her arm absently around his waist. "He deserved a lot worse. I can't believe that what happened didn't kill him, much less than him even having the strength to crawl out of that damn warehouse."

"Do you think he'll be a problem?" Scott questioned.

"It's slasher movie logic, McCall," said Winnie. "The bad guys always come back."

"They do seem to do that, don't they?" Scott sighed, glancing over to Winnie as they kept walking in the brisk weather. Dawn was only just breaking, pinks melding into foggy blues.

"Hey, how's your mom been with everything?"

Scott scratched his jaw with his free hand, "She's...adjusting. It'll take time, but we'll get back to normal."

"That's good, I'm glad." Winnie let go of Scott, pulling out her car keys from her pocket as they came across the Malibu sitting outside her house.

"What about your dad? I know things were kind of rough with you guys." Scott climbed into the passenger's seat as Winnie unlocked the red car.

"We're getting there," Winnie replied as she started the engine. "With Gerard out of the picture it'll be easier. No more lies, I hope."

Scott watched Winnie, glancing between the road and her. "And what about, uh, what about the rest of the school year?"

Winnie's eyebrows furrowed, "What do you mean?"

"The rest of the year, Win," Scott hesitated to say. "Are you, y'know...?"

"Are you trying to ask if I'm staying in Beacon Hills?"

Scott bit the inside of his cheek as they pulled up to the McCall house. "Are you?"

Winnie parked the Malibu, turning towards Scott. "I would like to. My dad and I still have to talk, but I hope I can."

Scott lightly smiled, "We'd all really like it if you did."

"Thanks, Scott," she said with a laugh before hugging him. "Get some sleep."

"You too," Scott advised, climbing out of the Malibu and heading up to the house.

Winnie held a smile, shifting gears before driving back towards her house. She sighed to herself, her thigh still throbbing and her open stitches burning in her arm. The quick drive was over with as Winnie parked in the garage next to her father's.

Despite needing to go to the hospital, Winnie instead went inside.

"Winowna?"

"It's me," she replied as she heard her father's concerned voice. She removed the gun she was keeping on her with a sore arm, placing it on the kitchen counter.

"Thank god." Aaron rushed into the room, wrapping his arms around his daughter tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay. I was so worried."

Winnie closed her eyes, resting her head against Aaron's chest. "I'm okay, Dad."

Aaron kissed the top of her head, squeezing her. "I'm so sorry I brought you here, Win. I didn't know it would turn into this. I'm getting you the hell out of here, we'll get back to Colorado and-"

"Dad," Winnie spoke softly as she looked up to him with his arms around her, "I...I think I want to stay."

Aaron gave Winnie an odd look, running a hand along her hair. "You want to stay? Are you sure?"

Winnie nodded, "I'm sure."

"Alright, Win. We'll stay."

¥ ¥ ¥

"Why are we out here again?"

The remnants of the Hale pack walked within the Preserve, Peter speaking up as Derek and Isaac were ahead.

"Because Winnie said she dreamt about the house," Derek reminded as he pushed through the clearing.

The wafting smell of charred wood lingered, the trio approaching the old Hale House.

Isaac furrowed his eyebrows at the odd symbol on the door, his confusion emanating.

Peter smelled Isaac's apprehension, realizing this kid knew next to nothing. "You haven't told him everything yet, have you?" he asked his nephew.

The beta looked between the Hales, "What do you mean?"

Peter sat back against a tree, "Why do you think Derek was in such a hurry to build his pack? So eager to strengthen his power and his number?" He nodded lightly to the door, "When there's a new alpha, people take notice."

"People like who?" Isaac hastily asked. He turned, walking up the steps of the burnt home as he pointed at the door. "What is this? What does this mean?"

Done in black paint, it was a geometrically sound triskele; sharper than the Hale's.

"It's their symbol," Derek said. "And it means they're coming."

Isaac looked back to Derek, "Who?"

"Alphas," he replied.

The betas eyebrows came together, "More than one?"

Although he hid it well, it struck fear in Derek's heart. "A pack of them."

"An alpha pack," said Peter.

The elegant figure of Winnie came from around the side of the home, walking along the porch with her sketchbook and graphite staining the side of her hand. "And they're not coming." She opened up the book filled with horrible, beautiful things. "They're already here."

- This is it guys, all that's left is the epilogue. Season 2 has come to a close and its only leaving me with more things to throw Winnie into for season 3 - Mel xx