18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 480

The Arctic chill was biting, and Stella worried that Snowflake, inexperienced as she was, might struggle to take care of her newborn pups. So she busied herself knitting little sweaters, figuring it was better than sitting around doing nothing.

Meanwhile, Jasper threw himself into the wolf-training program with enthusiasm.

No one seemed to notice that Rosie, their younger sister, appeared more forlorn by the day.

She used to keep to herself, not wanting to intrude on the cozy couple unless absolutely necessary. Back when Cooper was around, they'd have a blast hurling snowballs at each other and engaging in playful snowball fights.

But now... it was as if Cooper had forgotten all about her, his attention divided between seeking Stella's affection and hovering around Snowflake. On clear days, the two canines would frolic in the snow, chasing each other with abandon. But Cooper no longer beckoned her outside for their usual shenanigans. She tried calling him out, only to find him rolling around with Snowflake instead.

Change had come swiftly, and Rosie felt utterly out of place. Suddenly, she felt a pang of being superfluous. Adolescence had a way of making one overly sentimental.

In the past, when she was down, Rosie would confide her secrets in Cooper's furry embrace. But now, she was at a loss about whom to turn to.

Only after finishing her tasks did Stella notice Rosie's plight. "Rosie, what's up with you?" she asked.

Rosie's face was devoid of color as she curled up on the couch, silent. "Big sis, I got my period, and it hurts."

"Why didn't you tell me you were on your period?" Stella asked with concern. "Do you have enough sanitary pads?"

As she spoke, she fetched some raspberry leaf tea from the pantry, a soothing remedy for Rosie's discomfort. Learning that Rosie had run out of pads, Stella promptly handed her a few packs.

charcoal stove. She took a step back, mulling over recent

were technically her brother and sister-in-law, they were as good as parents to her. Aware of Rosie's mood,

remained, and when they had a moment to observe, Rosie still seemed melancholy. Stella understood that Cooper's preoccupation with his mate wasn't the root of the issue-it was

with a brother and sister-in-law so in love, and Cooper orbiting his partner, left Rosie feeling the sting of exclusion-similar to the loneliness Stella had felt as a child, watching her classmates being picked up by their parents while she had no one. Empathy drove Stella to select a few psychology books, hoping they'd help Rosie. Whenever the weather allowed, Jasper

ventured out into

wolf-dog suddenly stood

Stella pulled out her gun and instructed,

the relative peace of late, her vigilance hadn't waned. She stepped outside and climbed atop a snowdrift, surveying the surroundings with her binoculars. Jasper was out patrolling with Rosie and Cooper. Several shadowy figures appeared a few

the distant figures, ready to spring into action at any

patient, and Snowflake seemed to understand, staying still as commanded. There were five of them, and upon spotting Jasper in the distance, they raised their

aimed and

Preparing for a second shot, Stella realized the

she couldn't see them, they seemed to be shouting something indecipherable from this distance. They were brandishing weapons, yet Jasper, inexplicably, did not open

the scope, Stella

Cooper to head back, while he communicated something to the strangers as he retreated. Stella kept her sights trained on them, ready to act

they were out of effective shooting range, then turning to leave. Knowing there was a sniper in

the second,

turned their backs, retrieved their weapons, and quickly

trio returned safely, Stella, anxious and concerned,

"Russians."

survivors to venture this far north. She frowned, "Why didn't you