18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 524

Jasper eyed Snowflake, the stubborn glint in her eyes undimmed even in defeat. "Snowflake hasn't been tamed," he mused. "She's just bowing to reality for now."

Surviving in the Arctic was no picnic, and a lone wolf like her would've eventually been snuffed out by humans, but then she met Cooper...

Their love was the real deal, no question. She chose to stay, but that didn't mean she wanted this life for her pups.

So, she raised them until they were old enough, then started teaching them the ropes of survival.

Stella got it. "Does Snowflake want to send Hugo back to the wild?"

That's what Jasper thought. Why else would such a close-knit couple be at each other's throats?

Even the best couples have their brawls, neither willing to back down.

Stella felt torn. Hugo had grown quite attached to her, and the idea of him being driven away was gut-wrenching.

It wasn't an exaggeration to say she doted on him like a cherished grandchild.

But Snowflake was Hugo's real mom, and each species had its own way of living. Stella had no right to make decisions for them.

Suddenly, Stella thought of Daniel. He'd almost made it to the courthouse, ready to tie the knot, but in the end, he chose to accept a mission from the state.

In that moment, she understood Snowflake's actions.

It hurt, but Stella didn't interfere. She just turned and walked away.

If Snowflake was Hugo's mom, then Rosie was like a second mom to them.

She couldn't fully grasp it, but she took her brother's words to heart.

That evening, the couple came home with the kids.

Despite the rough play, only minor scrapes were visible, and the silent treatment between the adults began.

The next day, Snowflake took Hugo out again.

Predictably, another fierce battle broke out, but Cooper didn't run to Stella to complain.

He probably knew Stella was protective and might go after Snowflake.

Stella was both amused and concerned but chose not to step in.

She kept a close watch, though. Snowflake was smart-maybe she'd taken Stella's previous advice to heart, just like her own mother might've taught her.

Snowflake's fishing skills were top-notch. She wouldn't eat the deformed fish, instead teaching her pups the tricks of the trade.

had been raised on Stella's handouts and was initially scared of fishing, but the scent of blood soon awakened his wild instincts, and he

month of training, they could catch live

sprinted joyfully towards Stella and dropped it at

remembered when Cooper had caught a live fish

down to pet Alpha's head, her heart heavy with reluctance. "Learn well from your mom, and

you have to go it alone, steer clear of

conflict, Cooper

appeared to have come to terms with

either to the sea

went on for three months, from

unpredictable, one moment you could wear

But greenery was starting to

in front of the RV, scanning the distant sea with

no longer

hundred meters away. Now, it was tens of kilometers distant,

was once barren land now sprouted

a

driving Hugo away,

drove

not

unhappy, but

one night, and before reaching home,

hearing the sad cries, covered

Oh, her precious grandpup!

about a week, Hugo truly

pouring

approached and gently scratched

bone-chilling, and after half a month, Hugo's shadow

relationship between the couple eventually

time passed, Snowflake regained her liveliness

started to show

increasingly silent, often burning the food

on a rock, gazing into

but then

she spoke to

but Rosie

remained the same,

garden and caring for

"Is there something you can't tell your brother?" Rosie

promised our parents

Rosie remained silent.

just sat with