Following the conclusion of Teen Wolf season 3a, fans were left with numerous unanswered questions and a drastically changed Derek Hale (Tyler Hoechlin).

While the former Alpha spent the majority of the first two seasons attempting to gain and build power, Derek appears to have turned a corner.

"Derek, in his own way, has ended a chapter here. For me, the theme of Derek for this season was the idea that his power is truly to endure," said series creator Jeff Davis, according to The Backlot. "You can throw anything at him - and that's why we put the flashbacks in - you can throw anything at Derek and he will survive. He endures. He always endures and I think he really becomes a hero in this last episode."

When confronted with villains in the past, Derek's first instinct was to kill. While it may have fit into an eye-for-an-eye mindset, his decisions let Deucalion (Gideon Emery) walk and not be the one to end the Darach (Haley Webb) shows that he has become more of a protector than in the past.

"When he says, No, he won't kill Deucalion it seems like such a good moment for the character," Davis told The Backlot. "He's a predator but he doesn't have to be a killer. His mother's words, which he repeated to Scott, actually, in the first season."

As for Hoechlin, he doesn't appear to think his character is suited for the role of the Alpha, a job that has an entire pack leaning on you.

"I think he wants to be the lone wolf. I think he works well that way but I am not sure that is exactly what he wants, but [in] season 3, I feel like it had kind of taken a toll on him," Hoechlin said, according to The Backlot. "He felt a lot of pressure, just having that many people around him and kind of counting on him."

However, Derek won't be away from Beacon Hills for long. Davis previously stated that he is going to a specific locale for a specific reason before he returns to the supernatural ground zero of California.

Teen Wolf will return to MTV on Jan. 6.

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