Between Two Mountains

Chapter 8

Looking at the redbrick, industrial buildings in front of us, I would never be able to tell what complex operations lie inside.

There are five buildings total, isolated by thick forest and two rivers that split and connect around them like a moat. We drive over the newly built bridge to the middle of the parking lot in front of the main building. Dim street lamps and the lights coming from the building's large windows are the only things illuminating the lot. The surrounding forest is silent and pitch black.

Declan parks the car in front of the main entrance and we all shuffle out, careful not to slam the doors. He excuses himself to do a quick survey of the area as we grab the bags of amenities from the trunk. He returns to the car having found no potential threats and takes a bag from each of us.

Mimicking follow-the-leader, Remy guides the way and I quickly follow as Declan takes the tail end of the formation. Each of us relaxed, but aware of our surroundings and the deafening silence.

The Bode serves as a sanctuary for runaway wolves; rogues who have defected from their pack or have been shunned. It was founded by the humans who established the original town of Haven, after their homes were burned to the ground by packs and factions who had discovered them to be harboring fugitives.

Defecting is essentially forbidden under Pack Law and rogues found trespassing in another pack's territory are considered "illegal" and can be executed at the discretion of the Alpha.

They are labeled as threatening and vicious by our society. And, truthfully, some of them are ruthless and dangerous.

The Council continues to uphold this law in order to control movement and power within the established borders of the world. It often flexes its muscles by creating harsher punishments for rogues and calling upon the vigilantism of pack leaders. But, the number of rogues grows by the day and The Council's power over them is waning.

Realizing that the flow of wolves would continue regardless of The Council's declarations, some human settlements took pity on the souls, who travel for miles with no food or water... constantly on the brink of death.

If going rogue is the most difficult thing a wolf can endure, the journey out of their pack's territory and to safety is equally as gruesome. Not many make it out alive.

The kindness of a few humans is what saved my parents when they first arrived in Sterling. They could have easily been handed over to the nearby pack authorities because they were labeled as dangerous and criminals by their former pack.

Technically, so are we. Except, Declan and I were not born yet at the time of our parents'
alleged crimes, so no one from the old pack knows we exist.

We like to keep it this way.

I walk in through the two large oak doors after Remy and am instantly met with the smell of sterile hallways and lemon-scented floor cleaner. Faintly, I can make out another sharp and almost metallic scent lingering in the air. I smile politely at the grounds crew mopping the floors and instantly recognize the smell as the two of them furiously scrub away a ring of blood near one of the rooms.

All three of us make our way to the front desk where Ms. Judy appears from behind the counter with a rolling cart for our bags. Declan gives Ms. Judy a respectful smile and wave before dropping off the bags and dashing out the doors again to head to his game. Ms. Judy envelops Remy in a tight hug before turning to me and doing the same.

"I am so glad to have my favorite dream team of volunteers back in the same place," she gushes enthusiastically. "God knows we need the help and some good news around here."

"Ms. Judy, I brought you back a little souvenir," Remy says as she reaches into her satchel and pulls out a small, handcrafted pin with the words "Mama Hope" carved into the design. Ms. Judy's face lights up in delight as she takes the pin from Remy and instantly places it on the collar of her shirt.

"Oh, Remy I love it! You really did not have to get me anything. Just having you back here is a good enough present." Ms. Judy is the sweetest old lady and she has been managing the front desk of The Bode for as long as I can remember. Someone once told me that her grandfather might have even been part of the original founders of the sanctuary.

"Looks stunning on you Ms. Jude," I say as I grab the cart and begin wheeling it down the long hallway towards the cafeteria. "We're going to take this food out back before we start doing the rounds. Let us know if you need anything," I smile. Ms. Judy nods her head and returns the smile with her own genuine one before heading back behind the desk to busy herself with tonight's tasks.

"What's your assignment tonight?" Remy asks as we pass door after door, finally reaching the cafeteria. She helps me wheel the cart to the back of the room, expertly avoiding each lunch table.

"I've got the intensive care unit tonight, but I'm going to check on Malia first. I want to see how little Ally and Luke are doing cause they've been here two weeks now waiting for Malia's husband, Collin."

"I remember you texting me about them," Remy replies, absentmindedly removing cans from the bags and stacking them neatly.

"Yeah," I mumble, "that poor family has been through so much and getting separated at the last minute like that is unfair." I heat up the leftover stew and split it into three bowls. "Where are you tonight?" I ask her.

"They've got me updating some paperwork since I was gone so long, but I'll be with you in the intensive care unit. Apparently, they just brought in someone who's so badly injured that they need all hands on deck," she informs me.

Unfortunately, we get that a lot around here. 

The ones still standing on their own two feet when they walk through those doors are rare and lucky.