18 Floors Above the Apocalypse



Stella was clearly in a bad mood, and Rosie wisely chose not to defend Cooper, instead quietly tidying up their chaotic home.

Yeah... Cooper really went too far this time.

Jasper, having experienced love himself, could somewhat understand Cooper's actions. "Wolves have a gestation period of just two months, and considering the harsh conditions in the Arctic, it's unlikely there are many other wolves around. Besides, Cooper is smart; he wouldn't be easily duped."

Stella shot back, "Are you so sure?"

Typical guy, always defending another guy.

Jasper felt cornered and glanced over at Snowflake. "Just look at this wolf completely snow-white, not a single blemish. It's stunning, but it has this air of arrogance. Ordinary wolves probably wouldn't even catch its eye. Cooper might be a dog, but he's more exceptional than any military canine. Calling him the king of dogs wouldn't be an exaggeration. He looks down on his peers, thinking they're not worthy of him. I believe this was mutual attraction at first sight; they wouldn't have offspring so quickly otherwise. Maybe it's fate."

To put it plainly, if Snowflake didn't like and trust him, would she have stepped into human territory? Cooper growls at her, but she doesn't fight back. This is typical of a couple madly in love, with an attitude of submission to the stronger partner. All in all, Jasper thought they deserved a chance.

Having lived two lifetimes, Stella was far from naive. "Don't tell me you're using Snowflake as a metaphor for me, to indirectly prove how strong and superior you are..."

"Cough..." Jasper choked on his drink. Really, he shouldn't have tried to reason with her while she was fuming. So, Jasper decided to let it go. After all, Cooper was hers, and she cared more than anyone else.

The siblings went about straightening up their home, which had been turned upside down by the blizzard. Cooper indeed deserved a scolding; the destruction was thorough. Thankfully, there was no draft in the house, or they might have been blown away with the furniture.

Stella, grabbing Cooper by the ears, approached Snowflake and then vanished. Rosie breathed a sigh of relief. "Brother, is Cooper going to be a dad?"

Jasper was only speculating. "Maybe."

Rosie pondered. "What about you and sister-in-law?"

"The conditions aren't right now; your sister-in-law and I aren't planning on kids. Whether we'll want them in the future depends on the circumstances then."

Jasper warned his sister, "Having kids is dangerous; a difficult birth could cost a life. Let's not talk about this again."

Could die? Rosie clapped her hands over her mouth. "Brother, I don't want anything to happen to you and sister-in-law."

"We won't let anything happen," Jasper reassured her. "Rosie, we need to live happily and freely. Having children isn't the most important thing in life."

Rosie was a bit lost. "What is the most important thing?"

"To live a joyful life, to make the most of it, to find something worth investing your energy in."

Rosie seemed to understand, like helping with the community's construction? As she thought about it, she remembered feeling very happy during that time, as if life was hopeful. "Brother, what's the most important thing to you?"

Jasper smiled. "There are many."

Before the disaster, his only wish was to survive with Rosie. Then he met Stella, and they got Cooper... Different stages in life bring different important matters.

...

One moment, it was a freezing world for Snowflake, and the next, the world was green and vibrant with spring. This was a world it had never seen before, and it felt incredibly dangerous! Snowflake was petrified, tail tucked, retreating continuously. Cooper rushed over to comfort it, muttering words of reassurance. Look at him, so pathetic in love, Stella thought, her irritation flaring up again—ear-pulling time!

Annoyed as she was, seeing

Snowflake's lean figure, she still

tossed two pork chops its way. Not right in front of it, but onto the ground. Snowflake's eyes gleamed, but it didn't rush over. Cooper, ever so considerate, brought them to Snowflake, gently resting a paw on it's head, signaling it to eat. That indulgent look nearly gave Stella a heart attack. The two pork chops, about five pounds together, were quickly devoured.

Stella beckoned the prodigal son over. "What do you want now?"

Cooper played dumb, wagging his tail frantically, trying to charm her. "You're getting married and expecting me to foot the bill?" His doggy eyes blinked, shining like stars. Stella thought it over and decided, as long as this wasn't some ungrateful lone wolf, she could accept Snowflake as Cooper's mate. However, if the pups in Snowflake's belly weren't his, there was no way she would take them in.

They would see when the kids were born. Besides, it wasn't just about the cost of maintenance; there were plenty of other troubles ahead. Who knew if Snowflake had a pack? What if it was a clan leader, whispering sweet nothings to Cooper, convincing him to bring the whole pack home for her to care for? Neither human nor animal would appreciate someone turning their precious baby into a rebellious child.

But Stella wasn't a tyrannical parent. Considering Cooper's lifespan and quality of life, she was still willing to give Snowflake a chance. She smiled at the memory of buying Snowflake for Cooper's happiness. Her head ached; Stella needed a moment to cool down and waved them away. "Take her out for some fun."

And so, Cooper proudly showed Snowflake around The Garden, as if to say, "Look, all of this is my kingdom, soon to be yours and our children's." Stella's heart felt even more congested.

At first, Snowflake was on guard, but

as Stella didn't follow, it slowly relaxed, whispering secrets with Cooper among the rapeseed flowers. From its earliest memories,

it knew only a white, cold w Bl.rg

without the scent of flowers or a full belly. But now, it was warm and colorful, and Snowflake curiously observed this new and different world. Communicating in their canine-wolf language, Cooper even groomed Snowflake...

Cooper picked a rapeseed flower and offered it to Snowflake, which flopped down amidst the blossoms, showing its soft underbelly. Stella, secretly watching from the second floor, was stunned. So this was love. Only a mother would understand the mix of relief that Cooper wouldn't be alone, yet feeling an emptiness inside. She had fed and cared for him, and he had never sweet-talked her like this.

The scoundrel, a natural at romance. She began to grasp why some mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law clashed—it was jealousy! Stella felt she wasn't jealous; it was just all so sudden, too much to take in.

When they left Arcadia, the house was all tidied up. Strolling through The Garden had taken the fierce edge off Snowflake, but the creature still instinctively retreated to a corner, ready to defend itself. It was animal instinct, after all. Stella couldn't be bothered with it. She slumped onto the couch without a word. Cooper dragged his dog bed over, offering Snowflake some comfort for the night.

Noticing the twitch at the corner of her mouth, Jasper couldn't hold back. "Jealous?"

Stella wiped her nose, taking her time before finally speaking up. "A little."

The beast was like a tornado, andNôvelDrama.Org holds © this.

she needed time to adjust. She

wanted to get an ultrasound for Snowflake, to estimate the cycle of its litter, but wolves are naturally wary. Best to wait until the animal

et

was more comfortable. Having a new member in the house, and one that watched you with cold, ferocious eyes at all times, was quite the hassle. Taming a wolf was no easy feat. For all you know, you might be sleeping soundly one night, and out of nowhere, it could pounce and go for your throat.

And don't even mention Cooper being able to hold it down. Didn't you see how spoiled it's become? Annoyed, Stella decided to take it out on her partner. "When are you going to take a leaf out of its book?"