Chapter 2

Adam’s P.O.V.

I was driving my rusty old red truck through Fairview, the name of the picturesque small town that we lived in our entire lives. It was nestled between a breathtaking harbor and majestic mountains in the middle of America. With its stunning natural surroundings, Fairview offered its residents and visitors a tranquil and idyllic setting. The town’s geography was a defining feature, as it was rare to find a place that combined the beauty of a harbor and the grandeur of mountains so seamlessly. And I always wondered if that was one of the reasons why my grandparents had decided to call this place home all those years ago when they had moved here.

The harbor served as a bustling hub of activity, with fishing boats and sailboats dotting the serene waters. The salty scent of the sea filled the air, and seagulls could be heard overhead as they swooped and glided along the shoreline. The harbor not only provided a livelihood for local fishermen and restaurants but also invited tourists and visitors to explore its shores and partake in various water activities, such as boating, kayaking, and fishing.

On the other side of Fairview, the mountains stood tall and imposing, creating a breathtaking backdrop for the town. Covered in lush greenery during the warmer months and capped with snow during the winter, the mountains offered numerous opportunities for outdoor adventures. Hiking trails wound through the dense forests, leading to stunning viewpoints that showcased the town’s natural beauty. And for me and my family, the mountains gave us the perfect base to let our wolves roam freely.

Imagine being a werewolf in New York City.

Well… pretty impossible if you asked me.

Fairview was characterized by its tight-knit community, where everyone knew everyone. The town’s small size fostered a sense of familiarity and warmth among its residents. Neighbors greeted each other on the streets, and local businesses often developed personal relationships with their customers. The community’s close bonds created a sense of unity and support, making Fairview a place where people looked out for one another, which was probably the main reason why I had decided to stay in this small town with my siblings as well after our parents had passed away.

Well… that and one more reason,

the reason I was driving to right this very second.

And with the way my wolf Canin chuckled inside of me, clearly, he agreed with me on this one.

Because quite honestly, this place called Fairview wasn’t for everybody. In such a close community, secrets were hard to keep, so the reason why the humans living here never found out about our secret identity was a miracle to me. Rumors always spread quickly, and news traveled faster than the wind around here. The townsfolk were known for their curiosity and concern for one another, which sometimes led to a blur between public and private matters. However, this intimate atmosphere also meant that celebrations, joys, and sorrows were shared by all, creating a sense of collective experience and empathy. Fairview was a place where time seemed to move a little slower, and the simple pleasures of life were still cherished deeply. The town’s natural beauty, coupled with its closely-knit community, made it a haven for those seeking a peaceful and meaningful existence smack in the heart of nature. Because yes, ever since our parents had died all those years ago, it felt as if we had been standing smack in the middle of it all. I mean, the fact that we were a big family was probably a big part of it as well.

First, there was me, Adam Miller, the eldest at 31 years old. A passionate gym teacher at the local high school since I used to play rugby but since living in a small town like this didn’t have any big stadiums or high league teams to play in, becoming the coach in order to be able to take care of my siblings had been the next best thing for me.

Koda Miller, the second sibling who was aged 29, possessed a vibrant and adventurous spirit. Always seeking new experiences and finding new ways to up his dishes in the kitchen. He had traveled the world for a couple of years, perfecting his cooking skills along the way. And right now, if things would go right, he would open up his very own restaurant in town over the next couple of months. At least whenever old Barry would decide to call it quits on the town’s diner and allow Koda to buy it from him.

Next in line was Skye Miller, with a name that resonated with the open sky, the man was a dreamer and an artist more than anything else. He had a creative soul and was always busy using his hands in the garage where he worked on cars during the day and paintbrushes to paint at night. But honestly, the kid had talent, and I couldn’t help but wonder what life would throw at him when someone would see just how good his art could be.

Blade Miller, was the fourth sibling and only nine months younger than Skye, making them both 26 years old. I mean, talk about a surprise baby right there when our mom got pregnant when Skye had only been a newborn baby. Blade was a thrill seeker with a passion for the extreme, which was probably why he had chosen to become a firefighter in the first place. From a very young age, Blade had always been searching for the next adrenaline rush. I guess Blade growing up into an adult, had not put out the fire in the man himself. Not at all.

Raven Miller, 24 years old, was just like his name, free as a bird. He had waited until the day that he had turned 18, and on that day, after basically blowing out the candles on his birthday cake, he had been gone on the first plane out of town that he could take. Out of the house, out of state, and out into the big world, chasing his own dreams ever since. At least, if he would have found his dreams to chase by now, since apart from running away from all of us… it also felt as if he was only doing that, running away from everything.

So, as if having five boys wasn’t enough for my dear mom and dad, my parents decided to get pregnant once again, I honestly didn’t know if they had just kept on going for the ‘girl between all boys’, a ‘little princess between the pigs’, but surely, they did. And they didn’t just make one girl, oh no, they made two for the price of one, popping out twin girls as their final kids.

Eluna Miller was the outgoing one, and by that, I meant that she was just never at home when she didn’t have to be. She was a typical teenage girl, loving to spend time with her friends and hanging out around town. Basically, anywhere was better than being forced to stay at home, and spending time with her older brothers.

Selene Miller, on the other hand, was much more introverted than her sister. She liked to spend her free time wrapped up in a book or writing her own stories. I guess she really hoped to one day become an author or something like that. I hoped for her that one day her dreams would come true. But the fact remained, ever since growing of age, the twins who had once seemed to be attached hip to hip, had now grown apart completely, which I honestly hated more than anything, especially for Selene.

But all in all, we Miller siblings formed a dynamic and lively family, each bringing our unique talents, passions, and personalities into the mix to create just one massive chaos of a family. Because let’s be honest, ever since our parents had died, we did get one thing right… we had grown tight, and to us, the family was all that mattered.

This brought me to this very present, where I was getting out of my truck and walked over to a big brick house, knocking on the door and waiting to be greeted by the matriarch of our family. The woman who had come to my rescue whenever I couldn’t face a problem alone, the woman who had initially wanted to move into our family house and raise us all, while I had been able to change her mind telling her I could do it myself. And after she probably had felt my wolf senses shift more powerfully into the Alpha role of the household, she had accepted and she had let me do it on my own. She still guided me whenever I needed guidance, answering any questions that I had for her along the way.

As the door opened, I was greeted by the cutest little old woman on the planet, her brown slash purple hair shining vibrantly in the sunlight, her blue eyes that had lived through so much widening with joy as soon as she saw me.

“Adam, my boy, what brings you here?” She asked me, to which I chuckled and stepped into her embrace because she already had her arms open wide, waiting for me to step into them.

“Can’t I come over and wish my grandma a happy new year?” I asked her, stepping into her house and closing the door behind me.