EPILOGUE
It had taken months, but they’d had finally built enough structures to house nearly a hundred people who were now ready to move in. There were twenty homes and an apartment building that, admittedly, wasn’t large but would hold nearly fifty people. There was also a small store that sold mostly food but would do a few everyday things, like some clothes and kitchen items. Then finally, they also had a community building for meetings, which would include an office space for Nessim to see patients.
It wasn’t huge, but it was enough to house those who needed the most help. “We still need to create storage for ammunition,” Chadwick reminded them, which none of them wanted to think about, even if it would be necessary.
Just because they were relatively removed from the rest of civilization didn’t mean they would be completely safe from harm. It was one reason Aban had agreed to be a part of Terrence’s inner circle. He may not have been as skilled a fighter as some others, but he would have the advantage of being able to shift and monitor things to keep them safe.
Plus, while they’d been busy building up the town, Aban had also been training with those of Saber and Edrick’s inner circle who were there not only to help watch over Redemption but also help with the construction.
Terrence nodded in agreement with Chadwick’s assessment. “True, but for now, we can store everything we need in my basement.”
Alpha Terrence’s home was by far the largest, although still not huge. He had five bedrooms and a spacious basement that would work not only to help house those who were still trying to move to Redemption, but he would be in charge of their more critical supplies, like weapons. “More importantly, we need to find people willing to move here to protect the residents.”
That had been a point of contention with all the leadership. Too many shifters were being miraculously ‘saved,’ and moving into one of the three towns. Most were still heading to Miracle and Salvation, especially since winter had made it too damn cold for most people to live in tents. But now that the first stage of the town was finished, they still would need several others if they hoped to keep the town safe.
The problem with that was their goal was to keep Redemption a secret, which meant they would need to strenuously vet everyone who moved here. It was hard to blindly trust that everyone they were rescuing was safe. For all they knew, some of them were pretending to have been captured in order to close the towns that were being protected directly by the Council.
Redemption might have been tucked away in the mountains, far from prying eyes, but they currently had little to protect themselves. Terrence was working diligently with Saber to find more men and women to not only become part of Terrence’s inner circle, but to help guard the town. But it had been taking a lot of time.
Those shifters they’d been rescuing were often scared to help after their ordeal. Many had been part of their previous town’s soldiers, but being starved, beaten, and worked nearly to death tended to cause many of them to be skittish.
Still, they were doing everything in their power to turn Redemption into a haven and it was time to move people into their new homes.
“You ready to see our house?” Aban asked Nessim as the others toured the rest of the town. Watching his mate grin at him as they approached their new home, Aban was once more stunned at how gorgeous Nessim was.
“Sounds perfect.” Nessim was excited to move in. Not that Aban could blame him. They’d been freezing their asses off for months, and it would be nice to finally have a place with electricity, heat, and running water.
Not hesitating in the slightest, Aban picked Nessim up into his, cradling him against his chest. He crossed the threshold of their two-bedroom home. “Welcome home, sweet one,” Aban murmured as he kicked the door shut and kissed his mate senseless.
They didn’t have time for more as they’d promised to help some others get settled, but that would not stop Aban from taking a few minutes to celebrate with his mate. Nessim was his entire world. Aban might want to help those shifters they’d been freeing from the humans, but he would easily walk away if that’s what his mate wanted.
Not that it would happen. Nessim had too big a heart. Something he’d proved over and over again as he tirelessly saw patient after patient until he was left exhausted and emotionally drained every day. It hadn’t helped that he’d still had to make trips to Miracle and Salvation to help those who lived there as well.
There were other therapists, but Nessim, being the kind-hearted man he was, had also continued to lead all the therapists in order to provide as much help to those who needed it, no matter which town they lived in. It often meant burning the midnight oil even after he was done with his patient sessions each day, but Nessim had still done it.
Aban would love nothing more than to provide his mate with a much-needed break, but it was hard to deny the suffering so many who were being rescued had to deal with. Especially when way too many of them were kids. Those were the ones that had everyone in all three towns working relentlessly to solve the problem.
Something was going on, and they feared the worst. It wouldn’t take much at that point to take out Miracle and Salvation. They might have the best fighters and Yosi’s advanced technology to keep them safe, but it wouldn’t take much to bombard them with bombs. It would only take one to wreak devastation, something they all were determined wouldn’t happen.
Yosi was creating better software to spy on humans, and defensive systems to prevent such an attack, but there were no guarantees.
“Hey,” Nessim’s hand cupped Aban’s cheek. “I get it. I’m worried, too, but all we can do is our best to stop whatever the humans have planned. Today is about celebrating the creation of Redemption, so you need to put on a happy face and help make everyone comfortable in their new homes.”
Smiling down at his mate, Aban knew he was right. Kissing those lips he was addicted to once more, he set Nessim down on his feet. “You’re right, my sweet one. Let’s go help get everyone settled so we can come back here tonight and celebrate our new home.”
Life, trying to protect those who needed it from the humans, would not be easy, but Aban and Nessim were determined to do their part. If that meant putting on a smile to help those who had been traumatized, that’s exactly what they would do.
They had enough worrying on a daily basis. On days like this one, they needed to enjoy the victories, like finally building a place where they could help those who needed it most.
“I love you, mate,” Aban told Nessim with another kiss before he opened the door to their brand-new life.