Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)-Chapter 202 - First Box To The Stash

Back at the apartment, I stare at the four boxes with the same amount of enthusiasm I’d reserve for climbing up a mountain to get to a cave I wanted to be in. Which is not that far off, with how much up and down I will need to do to get back to just spending the whole evening in the apartment.

Without thinking too much, I Stash one of the boxes that holds an ’adjustable base’ and begin a second trip. Walking fast through the city still takes a good half hour or more depending on getting stopped at traffic signals.

> This is making me regret not even checking if they would deliver to the warehouse without batting an eye. <

Who cares if it was on a record somewhere... especially with Claire out there watching over everything I do, it seems. Was I going to get heavily questioned for some reason and have so many problems before petty choices like that won’t matter so much?

"Maybe I should start being a little more unopposed to consequences that won’t happen until the distant future. Especially ones that rely on society remaining perfectly intact."

Still, the warehouse trips need to happen and I doubt a rideshare service would happily take the boxes that two men needed to carry up an elevator one at a time. And it doesn’t solve the problem of me lugging these boxes down on my own in plain sight.

The first box I bring, I decide to open before going back for another. A metal frame and mattress supporting platform comes out and both unfold in pretty much one piece. It seems before they packed, they thought of the ease of setup.

With my strength it is fairly light altogether, but I still store one part while carrying the other carefully into the center of my shipping container. Seeing it all placed there... even without the actual mattress and even without being able to test it in use, I smile.

"Well, looks like I’m actually walking from really nice apartment cave to serviceable mobile cave now, aren’t I?"

Pulling out my phone, I frame the first shot carefully. The bed platform looks interesting against the metal walls of the shipping container. The lighting coming in from the open door creates dramatic shadows.

I take several angles for fun. Wide shots showing the whole space, detailed shots of the mechanical components, and even one looking back toward the entrance while sitting lightly on the platform.

> These actually look quite good. Better than Kyrie’s terrible selfie attempts, certainly. Though maybe not as exciting in certain ways... which is a good thing right now. Yes. Good. <

My finger hovers over the share button as I review the photos. Part of me wants to show someone what I’m accomplishing entirely on my own. But these represent my most private preparations... my insurance.

Instead, I take one final shot - this one of myself sitting on the edge of the bed frame, looking satisfied and capable. Not for sharing with anyone else, just for remembering this moment.

I spend a minute or two just looking at the mechanical systems underneath, the remote control that is meant to operate it... which may be a problem gathering batteries for someday, so I’ll need to account for that.

The bed itself also has a big battery of some kind, apparently meant to help it return to a level surface if main power is lost. And ’main’ power really is something I’ll need to work on. I have so much to research, but it feels like things keep happening lately! Though at least it feels like a *solvable* problem in the relative short term, unlike most of my others.

"To test this... well, this building has power still, I believe."

The blue pulse at the edge of my vision had been quietly waiting for attention ever since I arrived in the warehouse again. Another checkmark this time, and another Task.

| TASK: Establish Stash Power System |

> Interesting timing. <

If I get close enough to an electrical outlet and maybe get what they call an ’extension cord’ it should be simple enough to manage. And besides, if I’m making these lengthy trips back and forth... I might as well get more done in stops along the way.

Not that the place I have in mind is anywhere on the route I would normally be taking. In fact, it’s on the other side of the city. Far enough that I finally knuckle under and open that app once more.

First, I change the payment method to the account numbers for my own bank instead of Kyrie’s white bank card. Soon I’ll have everything squared away and be able to hand this back to her with plenty of confidence.

> Yes, I’m going to give it back. It’s hers, not mine. Not *ours*, either, you silly wolf. <

Vrika whines and insinuates that sharing between mates is a given. But humans don’t always think that way in every case. I’d have to say even as a fox, if I try to imagine a scenario in which I was enjoying gnawing at a nice bone and someone I liked asked to have a turn?

I’d probably say no. Then growl if they stepped closer. Pick it up and go hide somewhere.

"Because some lines are not meant to be crossed. And people are meant to be separate, even while together."

As I wait for the ride to show up and take me to the Lake District, my thoughts slowly drift. From compromise in relationships, to finding a meat market or butcher that might have such tasty treats, and then to actually wondering...

Would the Alpha even like a present like that were I to give it? She is a werewolf who was human first, so I’m not sure the joy of such a sustenance seeking pastime is really the same for her.

But now I kind of want to know. And I kind of want to see her eat one. As much as I definitely want to wipe awkward smirking grin off my face and stop thinking about that woman!

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l