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.

Stella's handouts and was initially scared of fishing, but the scent of blood soon awakened his wild instincts, and he got more and more

of training, they could catch

carrying a live fish, sprinted joyfully towards Stella and dropped it at

when Cooper had caught a live fish during

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

to go it alone, steer clear of

conflict, Cooper

seemed heartbroken but appeared to have come to terms with

leading her pups either to the sea or

training went on for three months, from

one moment you could wear a tee,

greenery was starting to flourish

stood in front of the RV, scanning

no longer

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

once barren land now sprouted

heard a pained cry in the

driving Hugo away, biting him if

lingered, but with each bite, Snowflake drove

not speaking to each other and even refusing to

clearly unhappy, but she

one night, and before

hearing the sad cries,

Oh, her precious grandpup!

about a week, Hugo truly

the pouring rain all day, neither eating

scratched her

and after half

the strained relationship between the

regained her liveliness

started to show

increasingly

she would sit on a rock, gazing into the distance and

missing Hugo, but then she realized Rosie

deliberation, she spoke

had asked, but Rosie only

the same, but

the garden and caring

Jasper found her daydreaming on the rock again, he sat beside her and gently stroked her head. "Is there something you can't tell your brother?" Rosie

brother anymore?" Jasper patted her shoulder. "I promised our parents I'd take care of you, and

Rosie remained silent.

sat