"Winona! Weigh in here!"

I jumped about a foot in the air as Lydia and Allison materialised out of nowhere beside my locker.

Lydia eyed me curiously. "Someone's nervous today," she commented cheerfully.

I cleared my throat nervously and tried for a smile.

It turned out, I had seriously underestimated what it would feel like a) coming back to school after spending a night fighting for my damn life and b) with the fresh realisation that I was just as vulnerable against the alpha and his evil machinations as anyone else.

In short, Monday morning had found me almost deliriously on edge.

Last night I had stayed up until the early hours of the morning researching locator and tracking spells, of all things. As much as I barely liked my Gran on a good day, I wasn't entirely confident that I wouldn't end up with buyer's remorse if she really was eaten by a werewolf, so had been plotting on how to slip her something which would enable me to keep tabs on her. A lot of good it would do me now that I was avoiding Stiles and his car of course, but the thought was there at least.

Now that I knew just how much of a magical liability I was, my head was absolutely spinning with the endless lists of people that I still needed to try to keep safe.

Allison at least had the decency to look as rough as I'm sure that I did, with dark circles under her normally bright eyes. Her porcelain skin looked wan under the school's fluorescent lighting.

Lydia, on the other hand, was positively transcendent this morning. Her hair shone and her highlighter glowed, and it made me want to kick her head in.

"Haven't slept much," I said with a grim smile.

"Hmm, can't relate," Lydia said airily. "It's going to take a lot more than a semi-attractive, high-school drop out to keep me from my ten hours." She flipped her hair over her shoulder, and I couldn't help but envy her.

Here I was, a nervous, exhausted wreck, with what felt like the weight of this stupid town on my shoulders. And there Lydia was, wondering who was going to take her to homecoming if her boyfriend was busy being a dick that week.

"So, what was I supposed to be weighing in on?" I asked, not-so-subtly trying to change the subject. I closed my locker door and Allison and Lydia flanked me as we set off to class.

I wasn't quite sure how I had ended up here, in the middle of two very popular girls that I had nothing in common with, but I had to admit it certainly beat walking alone. Or facing Stiles after that bloody voicemail.

"Allison wanted to know if she had made the wrong decision." Lydia chirped.

"About what?" I asked, wracking my brain for a girly topic. "Your outfit?"

Lydia laughed and clapped her hands together. "That's what I said! The jacket is all wrong, right?"

Allison smacked my arm gently and rolled her eyes. "No dummy, about Scott."

I frowned at her. "What about Scott?"

"Allison totally dumped him last week. Like, right after the whole Derek Hale fiasco," Lydia supplied far too happily.

I almost tripped over myself in shock. She what?

"You what?" I spluttered, turning to Allison. "I don't understand? Why would you-"

"Uh, hello?" Lydia interjected. "Because he locked us in that classroom and left us for dead?"

"He did not!" I snapped, a little too viciously from the way that both Lydia and Allison recoiled. I couldn't have tempered myself if I wanted to, I had died on this hill last night with Gran and I would do it now as well.

"Okay, so what would you call the whole locking us in a classroom and abandoning us thing then?" Lydia challenged. It could have been a trick of the light but as I stared into her face, her green eyes looked just a little bit too glassy. Like maybe Lydia hadn't gotten away completely unscathed after all.

I took a deep breath.

"He didn't abandon us," I said, more calmly this time. "He was going after the janitor's keys and then-"

"And then he locked the door and didn't come back for us." Allison said quietly. "I just- I don't know how to reconcile that Scott with the one I…"

"But even the one you think you know lies all the time," Lydia reminded her. "And you can't build a relationship on lies."

I bit my lip. Lydia's hypocritical statement aside (like she really knew anything about Jackson's intentions), there was a point to be made about all of this. Scott couldn't keep both of his worlds fully intact. At some point, there would have to be some blending of the two, some sort of middle ground.

But information was so dangerous when it came to the supernatural. The second you brought someone in, you took on the chance that knowing what they did, came at a price. One that they would never fully understand. Their lives quite literally became your responsibility.

"Look," I said eventually. "I don't know about all that- I can't say what I would do in your position. But Scott is not a bad guy. He thinks you hung the moon."

A ghost of a smile played out on Allison's lips, shattered only by the ring of the bell.

"Come on," Lydia said, linking arms with me, any hostility apparently forgotten. "We've got an econ test to get to."

I fought back the urge to instantly recoil and linked arms with Allison instead, so the three of us were joined in a row. I think I'd seen this in a movie once- although the Human centipede had looked a little different.

Econ was bloody boring.

If I had still been at home, I would never have chosen to study bloody business of all things. I was not a grind and shine lad. I didn't care about tax or how corporations worked. Tesco could keep its secrets.

I wasn't even sure how I ended up in this class given that the optional extra GCSE's I had decided on were French and Performing Arts. Something about a transfer of credits- who even knew.

It wasn't like I'd had a ton of time to study as well, given the 'almost being brutally murdered' thing. Sure, I had actually had an extra week to revise for this stupid test, but I was a little busy trying to charm my Grandmother out of the jaws of the Big Bad Wolf. Or to at least give me a very solid head's up so I could tell a jury that I did everything I could.

I circled a few more answers at random.

Multiple choice tests were entirely new to me though. I mean, I understood the general concept of multiple choice, but the UK was entirely too obsessed with showing your working out or long winded, written replies.

At least when I failed, I wouldn't also have a hand cramp.

As I was pondering the various merits of American schooling, I felt a wave of something pass over me. Or through me, it was hard to tell. I sat very still and centred myself to see if I could isolate the foreign feeling. It felt… emotive, whatever it was.

Another wave rolled over me and this time I picked it up immediately. It was Scott and by the feel of things, he was on the edge of completely losing it. Classic me, only checking in just as we hit the climax.

Fear, loathing, and anxiety clouded the class, raising my heart rate with it. I could feel every pang of misery emanating from Scott, my chest tightening with each of his increasingly laboured breaths.

It was like being in the presence of a terrified dog, I could practically smell him. I covertly straightened up at my desk and glanced over my shoulder at where I thought he was sitting.

I could see the sweat glistening on his temple from the front of the class, a vein on his neck stark against unusually pale skin. His hands had the desk in a death grip, and he looked as if he was actually trembling. What was going on?

I only endured a few more seconds of choking down Scott's fear before he stood up abruptly. I heard his chair scrape across the floor and then hit the desk behind him as he stood.

I turned around properly in my seat this time and in the split second before Scott ran, I met Stiles' wide eyes behind him.

(Because sometimes, I look at you and think-)

The look we shared was weighted, steeped in that fucking voicemail and worry for Scott.

(-I'm going to fall right in and drown.)

Scott broke the tension for us by bolting from the room, leaving the rest of us in stunned silence.

Stiles waited a beat, maybe to see if I was getting up too. When I didn't move, he left without me, running after his friend. The guilt was thicker than Scott's fear. It was like bile in my throat.

I wanted to believe that I was frozen in fear, glued to my chair, and bound in hesitation. But it was a conscious choice not to join them.

(And I think you'd let me too.)

I couldn't get involved. Not after Maggs. Not after…

"The test is over." Harris announced, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose irritably. "Pass your papers to the front."

I didn't know why I was here.

I had absolutely no good reason to currently be sat in the bleachers, a book in my lap and my stalker sunglasses shielding my eyes. Lacrosse practise beginning on the field below me.

I remembered every promise I made myself in my bedroom this past week, every vow to disengage, to save myself. But I had to… I don't know. I had to check that they were okay.

If they were okay then I would feel better about leaving them. Abandoning the cause or whatever. If they were okay.

The team lined up on the field, a few scattered around as- midfielders? Defence? And one in goal. Danny, I think his name was. A friend of Jackson's.

Stiles was out on the field with the rest of his team, stood directly behind Scott who was at the front of the queue. It was hard to tell with all the sports gear on, but Stiles looked… nervous? Something about the way he was shifting his weight from foot to foot, unable to keep still.

Scott was, well… Scott had been an emotional hurricane ever since he had sauntered out to practise after everyone else. Where before I felt fear from him, panic- this time it was something else. Something I really didn't like.

The Coach blew his whistle once and Scott scooped up the ball in his net and charged forwards. He was fast but not fast enough as the two boys in front of him, approached him as a steel unit. I sucked in a breath as Scott was roughly shouldered to the ground, his head hitting the grass with a dull thud as he landed hard on his back.

That can't have been fun.

The Coach blew his whistle again as Scott roughly got to his feet. I didn't even have to look at him to know that he was absolutely vibrating with rage. I could feel it, across the pitch and into the bleachers, bridging us together like madmen in arms.

My own blood pressure skyrocketed, and I felt the fury fill me up inside. It was uncomfortable, like standing too close to an open flame but it was achingly familiar. An old friend.

I was almost too late, caught up in the feeling of power radiating from Scott. It was heady and I felt drunk. But watching Scott storm over to Stiles and force him back into the line was enough to jolt me a little. Like a splash of cold water on a feverish forehead, I came back to myself bit by bit, just in time for Scott to launch forward.

He knocked the two massive boys in front of him over like they were bowling pins. That should have been enough, but then he forced himself further forward, practically in the goal now. He had his lacrosse net raised like a sword and I saw it happen before it did.

He was an unstoppable force, a freight train which had run out of enough track to brake, even if it wanted to. At the last minute, just before the two boys collided painfully, I threw up a block. An invisible shield if you will.

Scott seemed to sense it just before he made contact but as I had predicted, couldn't have stopped if he wanted to. He crashed into it, hard and was thrown backwards onto the field. Danny, mercifully, only seemed to bump into it and in his surprise, toppled over as well. Thankfully that was enough to sell the scene without Danny ending up in a fully body cast, and the team rushed to help Danny to his feet, amidst a wave of indignant shouts.

I shoved my book into my bag and launched myself down the bleacher steps, emerging onto the field in a blaze of toe tingling fury. I pushed through the scores of angry and confused lacrosse players until I reached Stiles and Scott.

Scott was once again on his back, breathing heavily and looking in that moment, like he was more dragon than werewolf.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" I hissed furiously.

"They knocked me over first!" Scott growled and I fought every instinct in me to not reel back in fear. He felt- feral.

"Are you having a laugh?" I spat venomously. "This isn't a sodding game Scott, you could have killed him!"

"Get off my back," Scott dismissed, making to get up.

Something in me snapped and I forced him back down with a flick of my wrist. He grunted as he hit the ground again.

"You b-" he snarled, looking as if he could have slaughtered me where I stood. I knew because I felt exactly the same.

Stiles forced his way in between us.

"Enough!" he interrupted.

(That's why you have to be all in Winnie.)

"Scott, Winona is right," he continued. "Look at what the full moon is doing to you. You're not thinking-"

The full moon.

The sodding full moon.

God, how had I been so stupid? Of course, it was the full moon tonight. What was this, Scott's second ever full moon? I hadn't even… I hadn't even remembered it. I was so caught up with Maggs and obeying her orders that I hadn't even remembered the full moon.

Some witch I was.

If anything, this just further proved that I was no help to them. I had no idea what I was doing, and I was in so deep.

So, I did what any sane person would do. I doubled down.

I forced Scott back down with one hand and with the other, leant down and grabbed a fistful of his lacrosse jersey. The surprise registered on his face, and he struggled against my magical hold.

"Listen to me," I whispered harshly.

(Because if you're not, if you're not all in with us-)

"Get a fucking grip on yourself McCall. If I hear that you've harmed a single person during this full moon. It'll be your second and last."

(we'll sink)

I looked up at Stiles, brown eyes on steel blue. "Watch him," I ordered. "Or I'll leave him to the hunters." I looked back down at a furious Scott. "And they'll be sure to ship your head back to your mother in a box."

(I'll sink)

My walk to the carpark was a blur. I couldn't even be sure that I actually walked there. My back was straight, and my head was high as I stormed off the lacrosse field but the second that I was out of sight, I was practically dragging myself to find something that I could at least inelegantly lean against.

I might not have felt quite as terrible as I had after holding off the Alpha the other night, but I was still feeling bloody awful. The carpark was swimming dangerously in front of me and I could feel the custard cream I'd had for breakfast, sitting uncomfortably at the base of my throat.

Three flicks of my wrist. That's all it had taken. One for the block and two to keep Scott under control and I was completely done for. Maggs wasn't kidding when she warned me about using magic against other supernaturals.

I turned a corner and finally gave in on storming too far (or rather my legs threatened to give out) and leant heavily against the wall. I closed my eyes briefly and focused on the warm brick against my cheek. It took me back to a week ago, to my phone call with Arthur.

"What's holding you back?"

"They're going to make me step back. If I play this how they want me to, it's going to mean cutting communication with Scott. You know their policy, it's 'don't get involved'."

"But that's what's going to keep you safe Winnie."

"I get that. But, what about Scott? And Derek?" And Stiles. "Who's going to keep them safe?"

"That isn't the coven's job. It's not your job either."

I thought that I would have more time. I was so sure that I would know the right thing to do when the time came. That there would even be a right or wrong in this situation. I remembered thinking that Arthur was so naïve to just trust the Council's word but that's exactly what I was doing.

What was I doing?

There was a distinct click from somewhere in front of me and I opened my eyes.

"Hello little girl," Kate Argent grinned at me. She fingered the gun at her hip and cocked her head to the side. "Isn't this convenient?"

I sucked in a breath, my pulse quickening as she walked towards me. She made no move to withdraw the gun, but something told me she was just as dangerous without one.

"You can't be serious," I muttered.

I flattened my hands against the wall behind me, realising that I had absolutely no where to go. I surveyed the situation, trying to calm myself down. The carpark was empty, save for Kate and myself and I was still embarrassingly weak at the knees. That meant no magic any time soon.

Fuck.

Kate flashed me the kind of smile reserved for feline predators, her blonde hair glinting in the California sunshine.

"Can I help you with something lady?" I asked, channelling as much teenage sass into the question as possible. When in doubt, play stupid. It was all I had left at this point.

Kate threw her head back and laughed, finally coming to a stop mere breaths away from my face. She was so close that I could have reached out and touched her cheek if my hands hadn't been stuck to my sides.

"Let's not play games," she smirked. Her Argent genes were out in full force today- Kate was a devasting hunter. Beautiful and deadly, like a big cat but with the jaws of something much less natural. Primordial.

I didn't move, frozen in place as she looked at me expectantly. For all intents and purposes, I was an ordinary teenage girl, backed up against a brick wall and with nowhere left to run.

Did I even want to run? When had I ever been a runner?

"Winona Fraser, witch from the Council of Nyx- right?" Kate pressed, her tone light like silk. As if we were old friends who were just catching up. Discussing the weather.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from doing something irreparably stupid.

"No, sorry," I croaked out, focussing really hard on not panicking. "You must be looking for my twin sister. You'll never believe how many people mix us up-"

With one swift movement, Kate silenced me with a backhand across the face. She was so fast I barely even saw the arc of her arm before my head cracked back against the brick, my cheek stinging.

It was the sweet sting of humiliation.

I was better than this. I was better than the little girl backed into a corner.

The cold, shock of the slap was like coming up for air. The last few days meant nothing- they were nothing. I was Winona fucking Fraser and I made the rules.

I smiled slowly, a long sharp grin, designed to puncture the space between us. I wasn't afraid of Kate Argent, a woman who needed to hide behind a gun. Kate faltered ever so slightly, evidently a little caught off guard that her intimidation tactics were having the opposite effect.

"Is something funny?" she murmured softly into my ear, the hard edges of her unspoken threats lodging in my throat. I felt her hand wander across her own hip and knew that she was heading for her gun.

My breath hitched. "Does Allison know about your little extra-curriculars?" I whispered.

I hadn't really meant to give away my accidental friendship with Allison this early on, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

Kate reeled back and fixed me with a stare. Her brown eyes were flat and unreadable, but the slight curling of her lip gave her away completely.

Despite my body begging me not to, I leaned in to her for dramatic effect. I willed my legs not to shake.

"Should I tell her?" I pulled back slightly and let my eyes flick slowly up to hers. "Or should I let Derek?"

Kate's hunter abilities were razor sharp- I had to give it to her. She had her hand on her gun in the blink of an eye and the other one angling for my throat.

And then the bell rang.

The trill of the bell ran through us both like a jolt of electricity, causing Kate to reroute her other hand, the one going for my neck. I smiled again, taking care to remain visibly unruffled.

"I'd say you have about five seconds before the quad is crawling with students," I remarked cheerily. "How many witnesses do you think that would be?"

Kate sucked in a breath just as the first of the students began to round the corner.

"I'll see you soon Winona," she promised, the feline glint in her face back again. "Real soon."

"I look forward to it Aunt Kate."

I watched her turn and leave, losing her quickly in the throng of students desperately trying to filter out onto the grounds. When I was finally convinced that I had seen the last of her blonde head, I bent over and finally threw up that custard cream.

A/N: Sorry it's taken a hot minute to get this chapter up! Real life innit. Hoping for more consistent updates this side of Christmas. Peace and love!