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.

the scent of blood

training, they

towards Stella and dropped

caught a live fish during the early

Alpha's head, her heart heavy with reluctance. "Learn well from

you have to go it

of conflict, Cooper

but appeared to have come to terms with

either to the sea

training went on for three months, from

one moment you could wear a tee, the next

starting

the RV,

no longer

hundred meters away. Now, it was tens of kilometers distant, and the salty scent of the sea was gone. The reduced marine

now sprouted seaweed-like

thought, Stella heard a pained

away, biting

bite, Snowflake drove

couple fought several times over their child, not speaking to

was clearly unhappy,

one night, and before reaching home, Snowflake

hearing the sad cries,

Oh, her precious grandpup!

about a week, Hugo

by the window, watching the pouring rain all day, neither eating

and gently scratched her head with

and after half a month,

relationship between the couple

her liveliness

Rosie started to

increasingly silent, often burning the

on a rock, gazing into

but then she realized Rosie was

much deliberation, she spoke to

asked, but Rosie only smiled, "Sis,

and the answer remained the same, but

the garden

head. "Is there something you can't tell your brother?" Rosie came back to reality, forcing a smile. "Brother, I'm

shoulder. "I promised our parents I'd take care of you, and your sister-in-law

Rosie remained silent.

just sat with