It was but a few minutes before 8.30am and Saint Mary of Grace opened her dark wooden oak doors to the public. Rainbows of light lit up the church in technicolored glory as the sun shown proudly through the magnificently stained windows creating a sense of warmth and welcome.

Moving along the isle, ducking and diving in between the highly polished pews, Father Quinn MacNamara cursed quietly in frustration. He was dressed in black but for the white of the dog collar around his neck, a stark contrast to the brightness of the church.

Saturday was one of his busier days and any moment now members of his flock would begin to filter in through the doors. If only he could remember where he had put it he thought with annoyance.

Grasping the silver cross dangling at his neck, Father MacNamara looked to the heavens in desperation. “Oh Lord, help me in my hour of need."

Leaning against the open doors of the church with an easy grace, Adelphus watched the older wolf priest as he moved around, obviously flustered. He had sensed his agitation as he walked past in the street, and had decided to see if he could help a fellow wolf out, Pack member or not. Since coming to Miami he had been trying to school himself out of his older habits, but as he spoke his face remained perfectly neutral and his voice was soft but clear, resonating through the empty church as the Japanese-tinged English bounced back from the vaulted ceilings.

"Good evening Father, are you missing something?"

The soft clear voice echoed around the high ceiling and resonated off the walls giving Quinn the surprise of his life. His head jerked up trying to determine where the voice had originated from, confused by sounds that hit him from every direction. His eyes finally found a Japanese man leaning casually against the Church doors, his face completely blank and at odds with his posture.

Quinn could sense the power resonating from within the man and knew instantly that he was faced with a powerful lycanthrope, and a wolf at that. Moving with quick fluid steps, he approached the man placing his hand gently upon his arm. “My son you have no idea how grateful I am that you are here. I beg of you, help me to find my Angels and Demons before it’s too late!”

Tilting his head as the man approached him, Adelphus straightened and stood away from the wall, hands clasped behind his back. He only ever truly worked to keep his traditional Japanese upbringing from showing whilst around his Pack, they were family and it felt strange to have him seemingly so distant. Not looking down at the hand on his arm, his wolf brushed against the touch slightly, scenting the man, then sat back down and tilted his head at the mention on the Angels and Demons.

"Are you referring to a book of some kind, or are they something of a more metaphysical or religious nature?"

Quinn barked a short nervous laugh as he released the man’s arm, his eyes still darting about in panic. His wolf’s ears had perked up at the light contact, and was now staring curiously out of Quinn’s eyes at the man standing before him.

“Oh I’m ever so sorry. Of course it’s a book, but you have no idea how much trouble I was in the last time I accidentally left my copy of Da Vinci Code next to the Alter.” He said, his cheeks turning a deep shade of red with embarrassment.

“Where are my manners, I’m Father Quinn MacNamara.” Smiling with genuine warmth as he offered his hand.

Noting the nervous appearance of the wolf, Adelphus forced himself to smile warmly, trying to put the man at ease. He could see the wolf looking at him curiously and his own wolf looked back, not doing anything but look for now.

"Well from what I have heard of the book I think it was a bit of a risky mistake Father." he said with a slight chuckle, shaking the offered hand then turned back to the church and scented the air slightly.

"Adelphus Beckett..."

There, He could smell the mixture of paper, the scent of Quinn himself and the oils from his skin touching the pages. Following the scent he soon located the book half tucked beneath one of the pews where it had obviously fallen and been kicked underfoot by accident. Handing it back to Quinn he smiled and put his hands back behind his back.

"This is a beautiful place Father."

Taking the book in his hands gratefully, Quinn nodded his thanks as he tucked the offensive literature into his trouser pocket. “I thank you from the very deepest depths of my heart St. Adelphus, finder of lost and potentially embarrassing Literature.” He said laughing away heartily now that the emergency had been dealt with. “I’m sure I would have found it myself eventually but I’ve had a frightful cold lately and my sense of smell isn’t what it was.”

Gesturing for Adelphus to follow him, Quinn directed him to his favorite spot in the church. It was located halfway down the isle and appeared to be the focal spot of the Church allowing a perfect view of the high stained windows from any angle. “Your words are very kind Adelphus. I myself am very proud of being the custodian of such a beautiful Church. Now tell me, what brings you here today?”

"Oh I wouldn't go so far as to call me a saint, Quinn."

Laughing along with him, Adelphus nodded at the mention of a cold with a slightly bemused expression though he hid it well. Lycans didn't get colds....their senses could diminish with age like all nature did, but colds? Shrugging it off as not important, he followed Quinn to the center of the church, now able to view the entire building. His eyes lingered on each piece of glass, taking in the colors with a soft smile. His smile had started to reach his voice now, relaxing into the priest's easy manner and forgetting his upbringing more with each passing moment.

"You. I was passing by and could sense your agitation, so decided to see if I could be of any assitance. Besides, what kind of Ulfric would I be if I did not greet a new wolf I had not met?"

“I see, a good Samaritan.” Smiled Quinn as his wolf stood up, now looking at the man besides them with increased interest. This young pup was in fact the newest Ulfric of Miami, intriguing both Quinn and the aging wolf inside of him. He had felt the raw power emanating from within Adelphus when he’d first entered the Church, but that didn’t stop his wolf from edging in closer for a better look.

Regardless of the Ulfric’s power, Quinn felt comfortable in the quiet man’s calm presence. “I had wondered when someone would come along and try to reestablish a pack in this great city. Forgive me if I appear rude, but you seem a little young for such a position my dear Adelphus.”

Watching the older wolf stand and view them with renewed interest, Adelphus merely gazed calmly back, looking at both wolf and man at the same time.

"Young in body but old in soul Quinn..the reverse of you it would seem. Ahh well perhaps it is the age of the young that is due a turn this time, for nobody else seemed to wish to organise our brothers within the city."

Adelphus wasn't too sure that telling Quinn he had already in his life found fame within Tokyo, lead a street gang, killed a man and been a wolf for eight years after that whilst working as a member of SWAT.....Priests never mixed well with gangs and killing.

Quinn guffawed at Adelphus’s comment in indignation, but appreciated him for his honest appraisal of the situation. “I’ll have you know young Adelphus that this old wolf still has plenty of life its legs.”

Yes it was true that his sense of smell was diminished at this moment in time, but that was mainly due to the high content of silver found in the Church. Any prolonged time away from the Church would however see him regain this useful ability.

“You are quite correct that the cities wolves need a leader, the question is are you worthy of such responsibility?”

Laughing along with Quinn, happy he had detected his teasing and not taken insult to his light-hearted comment, Adelphus grinned hapily.

"Of that I have no doubt Quinn."

His laugh slowly drained away, the smile on his face becoming slightly more fixed and less natural looking but still there.

"The fates have seen to guide me to this city, so far from my home, put me into a position to take leadership, and given me a Pack that has grown literally within the course of one night. If that is not a sign of what I am meant to do, then I don't know what is Father. If I am worthy of such a position or not has yet to be seen, for I intend to earn the respect of others rather than just expect it."

Quinn looked upon Adelphus with a thoughtful look on his face, his hands grasped lightly behind his back as he rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. “I have met many a Ulfric in my time here at St Mary’s and watched each and everyone of them fail the pack. All of these men I found to be violently arrogant fools unworthy of another’s loyalty. You Adelphus are the first to walk through my doors that I generally believe I could come to respect and even consider a friend. I would truly hate to find myself disappointed.”

"And I would hate to dissapoint you my friend, for I already consider ourselves along the path of friendship."

Smiling at Quinn slightly, Adelphus inwardly mused on the mans words. How many times had the wolves of Miami been failed before he arrived? Well he was now all the more determined to do right by his Pack now.