Adam took a deep breath as he approached the front door of the apartment and the smell of mold nearly knocked him off his feet. He couldn't believe any werewolf could stand to live here, but he understood that in Collin's situation he didn't have many better options. The smell of fear also hit him, he didn't quite understand what the younger man had to fear but he braced himself anyway and knocked on the door. It opened and Adam was shocked at how beaten down Collin looked.

"Come in," Collin moved out of the way never meeting Adam's eyes due to shame and the knowledge that he was nowhere near as dominant as Adam. "Just please try to keep quiet, I just put my daughter down for a nap."

"No problem" Adam replied softly, he understood that waking her from her nap was not a good idea. He noticed that Collin didn't look at him and the smell of the other man's shame had Adam worried about him. He didn't know this man's story but he knew it couldn't be easy to be a single father to such a young child, being a single father wasn't easy with a daughter of any age, but it was especially hard when the child was so young.

"Collin… where do I even begin…" Adam wondered not expecting the more submissive wolf to answer.

"You could tell me how you knew where to find me and why you waited this long to have this conversation." Collin suggested, but there was no commanding force behind the suggestion.

"I figured you were no threat to the pack or my daughter; given you have such a young child of your own." Adam started his posture casual in hopes to show that he meant Collin and his daughter no harm. "I came now because a friend gave me a tip that you might need help… I came to offer it."

"It was the mechanic woman, Mercy, wasn't it?" Collin asked, his back turned and head down in shame.

"Yes, she is my mate… she was worried about you and your daughter." Adam admitted, "To be honest I'm a little concerned myself."

Adam had observed from the moment he arrived that Collin was thin for a werewolf of his height and it wasn't the lean, athletic build that wolves like Warren sported. It was an unhealthy type of thin: common in wolves that suffered severe injury recently or didn't get enough to eat. Given all the other clues Adam was banking on the latter. He had no reports of wolf fights in or around his territory which lead him to the theory that Collin had not eaten enough likely to make sure his daughter had enough to eat.

"How would you help me…" Collin asked sharply "… I'm not some charity case… I don't want handouts."

"I know," Adam replied his voice calm and level in an attempt to calm the other wolf down "I didn't come to treat you that way; I would never insult you like that… I came to offer you a place in my pack…"

That brought Collin up short, he had never expected that, the last alpha whose territory he was in had seemed more inclined to want to run him out rather than help him.

"I've seen your record Collin, you were a great Marine and it's a shame you don't have more help than you do. I want to change that… help you get back on your feet so you can take care of that little girl in there." Adam took care to keep his voice low so not to wake the child. "In my pack you would have no shortage of wolves that would be more than happy to drop everything to help you take care of your daughter. We would help you make sure she never went without."

Adam watched as Collin's eyes landed on the bedroom door where his daughter lay sleeping.

"You don't know how hard it is for me to admit that I can't do this on my own anymore." He sighed, "It's been hard since…" Collin hesitated to continue; it was hard for him to talk about Nicole's mom, Lorna and the circumstances surrounding their split and her death.

Collin's eyes filled with sorrow as he looked away from the door.

"Just think of how much better her life will be." Adam supplied giving Collin's shoulder a squeeze as a weak voice called out for her daddy pulling the two wolves' attention to the wide-open bedroom door where a little blonde girl with bright green eyes stood holding a well-loved teddy bear.

"I think I woke her up, I'm sorry." Adam sighed as Collin went to his daughter.

Adam looked over the little girl as Collin spoke to her, and even he had to admit she was cute. Her hair hung in ringlet curls that just brushed her shoulders, and her cheeks were still puffy with baby fat giving her an almost cherubic appearance. Her emerald green eyes were still hazy with sleep but he figured they were usually bright with curiosity about the world around her. She was nothing short of adorable.

It was obvious that, while Collin didn't often eat as well as he ought, his daughter never went hungry, and Adam figured that was on purpose. Collin would instinctively want to protect his daughter even at the expense of his own health and wellbeing. Adam figured given an hour most of the wolves in his pack would be putty in her tiny hand. He only gave Samuel Cornick two minutes maximum before he was completely wrapped around her little finger.

"Who is he?" she asked nervously as Collin picked her up.

"This is Adam, he… he's my friend." Collin said.

Adam could tell Collin wasn't so sure about calling them friends but it seemed the child didn't seem to notice that insecurity; a fact that both men were grateful for.

"Can you tell him your name?" Collin prompted.

She hid her face in her father's shoulder bashfully but still answered.

"Nicole," She said looking from her dad's shoulder with a cute smile.

Adam caught it but he was sure that, had he been human he would have had to ask Collin to clarify what she had said.

Collin laughed slightly at his daughter's shyness.

"She isn't usually this timid." He explained.

"We just woke her up, give her time." Adam smiled.

"True," Collin agreed then took a deep breath.

"Adam I don't know what I can do for her, this place…" He continued.

Collin didn't have to tell Adam that the apartment was a health hazard for Nicole, the alpha wolf was already well aware of that fact. Adam listened to what the younger wolf had to say, he knew that this needed to come out.

"If I do join your pack you promise you'll help me get her out of this place and to some place healthy." Collin seemed desperate.

"Yes, I'll make sure you and your daughter have a healthy environment, even if that means it's in my home." Adam replied.

"I could never impose…" Collin started to say.

"Collin, you would be a member of my pack… my family… and that's the thing people do for family." Adam countered cutting him off mid-sentence. "They open their doors and share what they have. I have a large home so I'm willing to give you shelter and help you find a job that will pay better so you can be independent if you want it." Adam paused "No, if you're joining the pack you aren't spending a moment longer than you have to in this place…"

"But… my lease…" Collin was in shock at what Adam said.

"I'll pay it off, don't worry about it," Adam replied.

Collin took a breath to protest but then thought better of it.

"Okay… let me pack some things and I'll be ready to go." Collin said.

"I'll watch her." Adam offered reaching out to take Nicole, to him it seemed like only yesterday Jesse was that size an a small part of him missed that.

"Nicole, will you stay with Mr. Adam while I get our things ready to go."

Nicole seemed to think for a moment then nodded.

Collin seemed reluctant to hand Nicole over to Adam but as Adam settled on the couch with her he realized Adam knew more about handling young children than he had given the alpha wolf credit for.

By the time Collin had gotten back Adam was listening as Nicole told him stories about her preschool adventures. It was odd to him to see an alpha wolf take interest in this but he seemed like he did but then again Collin figured he was putting on a show for Nicole's benefit.

"How old are your kids?" Collin asked.

"My only child just turned sixteen," Adam replied, "How did you know I had any?"

"Men who are parents often have a way with young children that those that have never handled them don't have. Granted, I could have been wrong and you were just a good uncle, but I really doubted it." Collin replied.

They got into Adam's truck and started to his home. About halfway there Adam noticed that Nicole had gone silent, he looked at her in the rear-view mirror as they sat at a red light and smiled as he realized she had fell asleep.

They arrived at the house and Collin got Nicole out of her seat as Adam grabbed one of their bags and started towards the house as Collin followed him.

To Be Continued…