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.

scared of fishing, but the scent of blood soon

training, they could catch live fish

a live fish, sprinted joyfully towards Stella and dropped it

caught a live fish during the early days

head, her heart heavy with

to go it

of conflict, Cooper

seemed heartbroken but appeared to

leading her pups either to the sea or to the mountains, moving with agility across the rugged

on for three months, from

was unpredictable, one moment you could

was starting to flourish around the

the RV, scanning the

no longer in

arrived, the sea was only a couple hundred meters away. Now, it was tens of kilometers distant, and the salty scent of the sea

was once barren land now sprouted

thought, Stella heard a

was driving Hugo away, biting him if

Snowflake drove him further away, several kilometers in

not speaking to each other and

clearly unhappy, but

one night, and before reaching home, Snowflake

the sad cries, covered

Oh, her precious grandpup!

a week,

the pouring rain all

gently scratched her head with

bone-chilling, and after half a

the strained relationship between the

her

to

departure, she had become increasingly silent, often

sit on a rock, gazing into the distance and

missing Hugo, but then she realized Rosie was lost in her

much deliberation, she spoke to

had asked, but Rosie

too, and the answer remained the

stopped tending the garden

again, he sat beside her and gently stroked her head. "Is there something you can't tell your brother?" Rosie came back to reality, forcing a smile. "Brother,

consider me your brother anymore?" Jasper patted her shoulder. "I promised our parents I'd take

Rosie remained silent.

just sat