Disclaimer: All cannon characters and settings belong to the brilliant mind of Patricia Briggs (and near the end of the chapter the creators of the character, Tommy, from Power Rangers). The rest comes solely from my imagination. This is written merely for my own pleasure and the pleasure of others. Also, I tend to get long-winded, so some of my chapters may be long, no, not may be, will be. You have been warned.

A/N: Because this story is connected to SeoHyun's stories, written by Imaginationqueen87 (go read her stuff, she writes in a variety of areas!), I debated on continuing this story as is and decided this will be the last chapter. The reason for this is because Time to Grow, which is the story arc that SeoHyun's story is in, is an Alpha & Omega/Power Rangers crossover which means this one needs to be as well. So the next arc will be titled Growing Up is About Change and it will be in the crossover section.

P.S.: The brief description of the bedroom the girls share comes from Time To Grow. You did an awesome job with the description, Queen!

********************A&O********************

Something was wrong with SeoHyun, Kara could feel it. Ever since she'd come back from San Diego her best friend was withdrawn and fairly reclusive. "Sage? What's going on with SeoHyun?" She knew Bran had stopped by earlier, she'd seen him leaving when she came home from school, and she was pretty sure he'd been there to talk to Sage about SeoHyun. Besides, worrying about SeoHyun kept her mind off her own problems.

Sage thought about how to explain what Bran had shared with her and a select few others. She understood why he didn't want everyone to know the full details. "The trip to San Diego unsettled her. It dredged up some old feelings and memories she's trying to work through. I know you want to help her. All you can do is be there when she's ready to talk about it all."

Kara sighed. "Okay," she said but she knew there was more to it. She would have to wait until Sage was out of the house to go snooping though. She wasn't blind, she'd seen the piece of paper Bran had handed Sage. Her guardian didn't want to tell her everything, fine, she'd find out on her own.

********************A&O********************

Several days would pass before she'd get her chance. She was finishing up her research paper when Sage said she had to head into Troy for ink cartridges for her printer.

"Want to come with?" Sage asked.

"Nah, I need to finish this stupid paper," Kara replied. She didn't have to tell her all she had left to do was list her resources which would only take a few minutes.

"Alright, kiddo. Back in a bit," Sage said and left.

Kara waited until she was sure Sage was gone then went into her guardian's office. At least she didn't have to worry about her scent being where it shouldn't since she was in there often enough Sage wouldn't notice it. Still, she had to be careful to put everything back exactly the way she'd found it.

Kara checked the desk first but found nothing. Then she checked a stack of folders Sage had on a shelf. Still nothing. "Dang it! I know it has to be here," she hissed and turned to study the room. Something about the bookshelf across from her caught her eye and she moved to it. Sure enough, when she looked, she found a slip of paper pressed between two books. She pulled it out and her eyes widened when she read it. It was a song, written in SeoHyun's handwriting, and a soft growl escaped her. The only part of the song that was in English was the chorus and those words... they hurt Kara's heart to read. She wondered what the rest of it meant and wrote down some of the words on a sheet of copier paper before she put it back, made sure nothing was out of place, and left Sage's office the way she'd found it. The translator she managed to find online could only translate a few words and it wasn't enough to get the full meaning of the section she'd copied, but that was okay since the chorus spoke volumes. She needed to find her best friend and talk to her. She needed to know why SeoHyun felt the way she did and she needed to do it now.

Kara headed for the front door then stopped. If she didn't leave Sage a note her guardian would worry. 'Sage, went to go see SeoHyun since I finished my paper. Back in time for dinner- Kara'.

********************A&O********************

SeoHyun wasn't at home so Kara went in search of her. She found her in a little grove playing her guitar. Kara waited until she was done to approach her. "Hey. I've been looking for you."

SeoHyun looked embarrassed at being caught playing. "Hey. Really? Why?"

Kara moved to sit across from her. "You've been kind of distant and withdrawn since you came back from San Diego. I'm worried about you."

SeoHyun ducked her head a bit. "I didn't mean to worry you. I'm just... dealing with some stuff."

"You know you can talk to me, right?" Kara asked softly.

SeoHyun plucked at her guitar strings. "I know."

Kara sighed softly. "I have a confession to make. A few days ago, Bran gave Sage a piece of paper that she... hid in her office. I could tell it was serious and I figured it had something to do with you, why else would he be the one to bring it, right? Anyway, I asked about it but Sage wouldn't really tell me anything so... I went snooping. I read the chorus of that song you wrote. I tried to translate more of it but I could only translate a few words." She looked at her best friend and it was clear she was still bothered by what she'd read. "Is that really how you see yourself?"

SeoHyun wouldn't look at her. She didn't know if Kara could ever understand why she felt the way she did. She saw her friend as beautiful, no way did Kara have her insecurities, right? "It's.. there's so much involved, Kara." She bit her lip. She'd only recently told her da and grandda about what happened to her at the hands of the San Diego pack's second.

Kara smelled her friend's unease and scooted over to her. "It's okay. You don't have to talk about anything you don't want to. You're my best friend and I just want to make you see that you are beautiful. That you're special and awesome," she said and hugged her.

SeoHyun leaned her head on her friend's shoulder a moment before she came to a decision. "Wanna come back to the house? We can have cookies and talk."

"Sure," Kara replied. As they headed to SeoHyun's, Kara got the feeling that whatever SeoHyun had to tell her was going to be bad.

********************A&O********************

SeoHyun waited until they were in her room before she started to talk. Both her mom and her da were home so if, when, Kara freaked out they would be able to keep her from losing complete control. "After I was changed, they kept me locked in the safe room. For two months, I was told by several of them that I was such an ugly and unlovable thing I should have died instead of being changed. Everett, the alpha, he beat me but it was Mitchell... the pack's second... he..." She blinked back tears and couldn't look at her friend. "He would tell me I was pretty while he molested me and Everett knew it was happening, he let it happen."

Kara stared at SeoHyun. She'd known her best friend had gone through hell before she came there, she'd been so damaged when she joined the pack, but Kara had never in a million years expected that SeoHyun had been sexually abused. "He... molested you?" she growled. She shook with sudden rage. "That fucking bastard molested you and the alpha let him do it?" Her voice dropped to a deeper tone as her wolf began to take over. "Those sorry sons of bitches! They should have died slow, agonizing deaths. They should have been torn limb from limb for what they did to you!" The problem with being so young was that once your emotions rose it was harder to stay in control.

Charles and Anna both heard the growl in Kara's voice and headed for SeoHyun's room. By the time they got there Kara was already starting to shift.

SeoHyun had tucked herself in the corner away from Kara, not out of fear of her but out of concern that Kara might accidentally hurt her and then feel awful for it and berate herself, something SeoHyun didn't want her to do.

"SeoHyun, sweetie, come here," Anna said to her daughter and as soon as she reached them Anna took her out of the room. She would let her mate help Kara.

Charles moved to Kara's side. "Calm yourself," he said and put a bit of authority in the words. He couldn't stop her from shifting but he could keep her from losing control while Anna calmed their daughter down. "You will not lose control, do you hear me?"

A whine escaped Kara as she fell to all fours and fur began to flow. When the change was done she lay on the floor and panted. She lifted her gaze to her pack's second and the look she gave him was one full of contrition.

Charles knelt and when he was sure it was safe he ran his fingers through Kara's fur. "I know you didn't mean to lose control so much that you shifted. I even understand the anger that caused it. But the wolves who hurt her are dead. Knowing about what happened to her gives us the chance to help her heal," he said.

Kara yipped in understanding. She would do all she could to help her best friend and Goddess help anyone who ever tried to hurt her again.

********************A&O********************

Days passed. Then weeks. Then months. The longer her parents were away from Aspen Creek the less Kara saw of them. It seemed like every time they planned on her spending the weekend with them in Missoula something always happened to cause them to have to cancel on her. At first Kara understood. She was a little disappointed, sure, but she understood. As time went on, though, the understanding left and all she felt was hurt.

"Why don't they want me anymore?" Kara asked one night after yet another canceled weekend visit.

"I don't have any answers for you, Kara. Goddess knows I wish I did," Sage replied. She wanted to strangle Kara's parents for hurting her so much. "Some people just can't handle having a loved one who is a werewolf. I know that's not what you want to hear but it's the only answer I do have."

Kara hugged herself. "I didn't ask for this to happen to me. I don't understand why they're punishing me for it."

"Kara, honey, don't do this to yourself," Sage said and went to embrace her just to comfort her. "They're being idiots and the only ones in the wrong are them. They've hurt you and a parent should never do that to their child. You are a smart, talented, compassionate young woman and you deserve better than what you've been getting." It was time she got Bran involved. Maybe he could get through to Kara's parents.

********************A&O********************

"Bran, I need to talk to you." Sage entered her alpha's office after a quick knock on the door. "It's about Kara's parents," she added as she took a seat across the desk from him.

Bran closed the file on the computer he'd been reading and gave her his full attention. "What's happened?"

"They've spent very little time with her since the play and it's really starting to take a toll on her. She's hurting and I don't know how to fix it."

Bran watched Sage a moment. "I will see what I can do but you need to prepare her in case the rift between them cannot be bridged."

"Thank you. I'll try," she said and left.

Bran looked up the Beckworth's number in Missoula and dialed it. It was late evening, they should be home.

********************A&O********************

When Ellen saw the Aspen Creek number on the caller ID she frowned. It wasn't Kara calling, so who was it? "Hello?"

"Good evening, Mrs. Beckworth. This is Bran Cornick. Is your husband home?"

She started to say no but stopped. "Why do you want to speak with John?" she asked instead.

"Who is it, Ellen?" John asked in the background.

"Bran Cornick," was her reply.

There was a moment of shuffling and John was on the phone. "Good evening, Mr. Cornick. What can I do for you?"

"You can explain why you keep breaking your promises to Kara. Each time you tell her she can spend the weekend with you, and then you cancel on her, it tears her down. I know you love your daughter, I saw it at the play, so why are you breaking her heart?"

John closed his eyes a moment before he took the phone outside to talk without his wife overhearing. "It's Ellen. She's... uncomfortable around your kind. She's tried to remind herself that Kara is still our daughter, but so many things are different, and the way things were in the beginning, it's biased her. It kills me to keep canceling on Kara but I don't know what to do."

"You need to decide who is more important to you; your wife or your own flesh and blood. And you need to do it soon." With that Bran hung up.

John stared at the phone. Choose between them? How was he supposed to do that? The logical part of him knew Bran was right though. Kara deserved better and he was going to have to make a choice soon. Could he do it though? Could he throw all the years of marriage away? Standing on the back porch looking out at the mountains in the distance he realized that yes, he could, if Ellen couldn't get past her issues with werewolves. His little girl was more important.

********************A&O********************

"How time flies."

Kara was applying the last of the makeup she'd decided to wear that day when she heard Sage from the doorway. "What do you mean?" she asked curiously.

"You're graduating, you and SeoHyun both, and soon you'll be leaving the pack to join the Golden Gate one while you're away at college," Sage replied and approached her. "It doesn't seem like either of you should be old enough to go off to college."

Kara set the lipstick down and turned to face her. "I'll miss you too," she said and grinned a little. "Just think, you'll have your house all to yourself again," she added cheekily.

"True, I will, but I'd almost rather keep you here," Sage admitted. "You're the closest thing to a sister I've ever had. I'm so proud of you. You decided to graduate early and pushed yourself to make it happen. You've chosen to leave home, and join a different pack, in order to go to college when you could have stayed here and gone to school closer to home. You're growing up. You should be proud of yourself too, kiddo."

Kara sighed softly. "I am. I just... wish my parents were here to celebrate with me, you know? But I guess part of growing up is letting go of childhood dreams and facing reality. And change. It hurts because I love them so much but they're the ones who are missing out."

"That's right. They're missing out on the amazing woman you're becoming. They'll regret it one day," Sage replied and hugged her.

********************A&O********************

They headed to the school and the closer they got the more excited Kara became. In just a short while she was going to be a high school graduate. In just a few weeks she would be going off to college in San Francisco. She couldn't believe it. Sure she was going to have a ton of student loans to pay pack (her bestie lucked out and was going to school on a full scholarship) but it was going to be worth it. The only thing she wasn't looking forward to was the banishment ceremony. That was going to suck, she just knew it. She slid out of the car and froze when she saw a familiar SUV. As soon as her father got out of the driver's side she squealed and ran to him. "Daddy!"

********************A&O********************

John Beckworth had made his decision. When Ellen continued to come up with excuses to avoid their daughter, even on her graduation day, he knew what he had to do. "I am going to go watch my daughter walk across the stage to get her diploma and then beg her to forgive me for hurting her. When I come back I'll be packing my bags. I love you, Ellen, but I'm done with this attitude towards Kara. She's our daughter. She didn't ask for what's happened to her and I'll be damned if I'll abandon her anymore," he said and left.

********************A&O********************

"There's my girl," John said when Kara threw herself in his arms. "I'm so sorry, pumpkin, for everything. Things will be better from now on, I promise," he added and hugged her close.

Sage wanted to be snide but she bit her tongue because this wasn't about her. She wasn't the one with the wounded heart, Kara was. "Hello, John. Glad you could make it."

"Thank you, Miss Carhardt. And thank you for sending the invitation so I knew when it was."

"You're welcome. I know having you here means a lot to Kara," Sage replied.

"Where's mom?" Kara asked when she realized her father was alone.

"She... didn't come," was his reply.

Kara swallowed. "Oh." What else could she say? At least her father was there.

Tag joined them when they reached the doors leading into the outer chamber of the auditorium. He and Sage were tentatively dating but he was there mainly for Kara. "Look at you, all grown up. Seems like only yesterday you were a little bit, all wide-eyed and nervous finding out about packs for the first time. Now you're a confident young woman ready to make he mark on the world," he said before he gave Kara a hug.

Kara laughed at being called a 'little bit'. "Well, I'm still little, height-wise anyway," she said cheekily.

"True enough short stuff," Tag countered.

Sage shook her head at their playful banter. "We should let you get inside with the others and find our seats," she told Kara and then she, Tag, and John went to the front of the auditorium while Kara headed backstage with her fellow seniors.

"You ready to do this?"

Kara turned at the voice. "Hey, Riley. Yeah, I am. It's hard to believe we're graduating." They'd dated for a little while but over time they realized their feelings were more those of friends.

"Tell me about it. This year flew by," he replied.

"Speaking of flying, a little birdie told me you got into Hanover College," Kara said as she moved to where everyone was lining up.

Riley followed her. "Yeah. They've got one of the best geology programs. I wasn't sure I'd get in but I did."

"Indiana is going to be a big change from Montana," she pointed out.

"Not nearly as big a change as Frisco," Riley countered. "At least SeoHyun has lived in a big city before, so she'll probably have an easier time adjusting... although I'm sure her wolf won't like it much."

"Mine either," Kara said and wrinkled her nose. "You've got a good point though. Anyway, see you after the ceremony," she added and moved further up the line. She stopped where SeoHyun and Bronwyn stood and hugged them both. "We did it. A whole new chapter of life is opening up for us," she said to SeoHyun.

"I know. It's a little scary," SeoHyun admitted.

"A little scary, hell, it's a lot scary, but we can do this," Kara said with a grin then took her place.

The ceremony itself was simple. Each name was called and the small class of twenty walked across the stage, shook hands with the principal, and got their diploma. Then it was over. There were hugs all around and SeoHyun, Kara, and Bronwyn made plans to meet up later after celebrating with their families.

"I'd like to take you to dinner to celebrate your graduation," John told his daughter. "Just the two of us. I don't mean to offend, Miss Carhardt, I would just like to have some quality time with my daughter."

"No offense taken. Please, call me Sage. I think some quality father-daughter time is exactly what you both need," Sage replied.

Kara thanked her guardian and followed her father to his SUV. She removed her graduation gown, folded it up, and put it in the back before she got in. "Why didn't mom come with you?" she asked once they were on their way to Troy where they would have dinner.

"That's part of why I wanted to take you to dinner, pumpkin, to talk about that. Your mom, she just... can't cope with what's happened. I don't know if she'll ever get over it or not, but as of right now, she and I are separating because I refuse to let her insane fear and bias keep me from my daughter any more. I know it's hurt you every time we canceled on you and I will never fully forgive myself for doing that to you, Kara. You didn't ask to be attacked and you're trying to make the best of it. We should do no less. Besides, you're still my little girl, you always will be no matter how old you get. I'm so sorry I let you get hurt, honey."

Kara shifted in her seat to look at her father."It's okay, daddy. You had a lot to deal with too and mom put you in a bad spot where you were torn between honoring your vows and supporting your daughter. I just wish I'd known about it before, it would have made things a little easier to understand," she said.

"God, you sound so grown up right now. I'm so proud of you, you know. You were handed a raw deal and you pushed through every roadblock to come out on top. And now you're going off to college. Are you sure you really want to go all the way to California?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm sure daddy. This is what I want." It was funny, she called her mother 'mom' but her father was still 'daddy'. He probably always would be.

"I will support you in every way I can," he promised.

Kara felt tears in her eyes and blinked several times to clear her vision. "Thanks daddy," she said as they pulled into a parking spot at one of her favorite restaurants; Maggianos Little Italy.

Over dinner Kara told her father about her goals and why she was going to San Francisco. Part of it was because it was where SeoHyun was going and she wanted to keep her friend safe, but part of it was also because the college she was going to had an excellent business program. "Besides, I always wanted to see the San Francisco Bay," she added.

John laughed at that. "True, you've talked about that ever since you were a little girl. Once you get settled I'll come visit," John promised his daughter. He would make an effort to be in her life as much as he could.

"Alright daddy, I'll hold you to that," Kara told him.

Throughout the meal they avoided talking about the situation between her parents. "Daddy? Are you and mom going to get divorced?" Kara asked as they headed back to Aspen Creek.

"Honestly, pumpkin, I don't know. I love your mother but I can't abide by her bigotry anymore. I hope she finds a way to come to terms but if not... we'll just have to see what happens." The one secret he'd never told his daughter was that Ellen wasn't her biological mother. Her biological mother had died in childbirth and he'd met Ellen when Kara was only a few months old. They'd had a whirlwind romance and were married by the time Kara turned one. Ellen was the only mother she'd ever known. He knew he would have to tell her one day but for now he continued to keep that secret locked inside.

When they got back to Aspen Creek, John hugged his daughter tight, reminded her he was proud of her, and headed back to Missoula. Kara watched her father go with a faint smile on her face. There was hope in her heart that the relationship with her father was able to be fixed and it lightened her mood as she turned her attention to the future.

********************A&O********************

The day they were to travel to San Francisco arrived and Kara was both excited and nervous. Not as nervous as SeoHyun who couldn't stop fidgeting but still. Watching her bestie she thought about what was ahead of them. She'd gone to Bran and begged him to not let SeoHyun go too long without a pack to support her. She'd been a lone wolf for the first three years after her change, she could handle going a day or two without a pack if she had to, but she feared it would crush her best friend. SeoHyun was still so fragile in so many ways. She of course had no idea Bran had already decided on that, even though she should have realized it, but the Marrok humored her and agreed.

They were met at a small airstrip and driven to the home of the Golden Gate Pack's alpha, Thomas Oliver. Kara watched as Bran performed the banishment ceremony on SeoHyun. She felt the jolt of pain as SeoHyun was removed from the pack bonds but she knew what she felt was nothing compared to what her best friend was feeling. When SeoHyun crumbled she had to force herself to stay put. Charles was there comforting her, SeoHyun was in good hands. Besides, it was her turn to be banished. The pain of losing the pack was sharp and she gasped, even stumbled a little, but at the questioning look on Bran's face she straightened her shoulders and gave a faint nod to assure him she was fine.

On the flight to Frisco they were both given quite a bit of information about their new alpha, including the fact that since he was fairly young he wasn't as big on fromalities as some of the older werewolves were. Because her bestie went the formal route with her request Kara decided to do the opposite. "Can I join your pack, Tommy?" she asked. The grin she gave him was a watered down version of her usual cheeky one because she was still adjusting to being alone in her head for the first time in years. "I'd be okay if I had to wait longer," she told him when he informed her she'd only have to be a lone wolf for the night.

"I'm sure you would, but I'd rather integrate you as soon as possible so tomorrow morning it is," Tommy replied.

Kara watched as SeoHyun was brought into the Golden Gate Pack and a tightness in her chest eased when she saw her visibly relax. SeoHyun was safe, even if it was hard for her to watch her father and grandfather leave to go back to Aspen Creek. As soon as SeoHyun came back into the house Kara hugged her tight and held her as she cried. Until Tommy took over, anyway. He was SeoHyun's alpha and for the moment Kara wasn't even pack. He could help her a lot better in that moment than Kara could.

The highlight of their first day in San Francisco was being shown to the room they would share. The beds were set so the head of one was at a ninety degree angle to the other with a table to fill the space between them. The sheets had tiny white dots on a black background with pillows of black, white, and mint green piled on the beds. On one bed, one of the green pillows held an S for SeoHyun while one on the other bed had a K for Kara. Against the side of each bed was a mint green cushion that was set up like a chair so they could sit and gossip, do homework, or whatever they wanted to do.

"It's perfect!" Kara declared and after a moment SeoHyun admitted she loved it too. Then they were left alone to unpack and get settled in. That night, after SeoHyun had fallen asleep, Kara laid there with the silence in her head and wondered what her new pack was going to be like. One thing was for sure, the next four years were bound to be interesting.