It Doesn’t Matter Anymore novel Chapter 71

Chapter 71

Two days after I got out of the hospital, Joseph announced he was leaving. A week long border patrol, he said. Pajce talks with the hurt) a packs.

He left in a hurry. Almost a panic. A guard scrambled to throw his things together, rushing it all out to his private chopper,

I didn’t have to look far to know where he really was. Ada’s feed was blowing up. Her location tag said The Luna’s Tear Springs. Asargand now

[Ada: With my favorite Alpha, in the most beautiful sanctuary, enjoying our babymoon.]

The photo showed two wolf paws, intertwined in the misty water. Two full moons reflected in the lake behind them.

Right there on one wrist, clear as day, was Joseph’s black-and-gold wrist guard. The one that screamed ‘Alpha’

I closed the app. The big, empty villa felt like a tomb. Time for the last clean-up.

I dug out every picture. Every painting. Ten years of us. My first shift. Our mating ceremony. Trips to the eastern woods, the western wastes. it. I carried them out to the garden fire pit and threw them in, one by one.

I watched the flames eat them. Curl them into black flakes. My heart felt like the ash-light, and nothing. The quiet was heavy.

Out back, the Bonded Oak stood tall. Joseph planted it himself when I turned eighteen. He said it was our love. Blessed by the Moon Goddess. Meant to last forever.

I called a gardener over. A big guy. “Dig it up,” I said.

He stared. “Luna… this tree’s got strong spirit energy. It’s healthy. About to bloom. You’re sure?”

“Dig it up,” I repeated. My voice was flat. “It stinks.”

The tree came down with a crash. Roots tore out of the ground. I felt nothing but relief.

Back in the study, I gathered the Blood Oath scrolls. All the stupid, sweet cards he’d written. I shoved them into the magic shredder. Pile after pile.

The machine hummed. All those promises turned to dust.

The matching fang necklaces. The wolf-pelt rugs. Every hunting trophy he ever gave me. I bagged it all and tossed it down the waste chute.

The den was spotless. Like I’d never lived there.

My flight for The Unclaimed Howls was in four hours. I had my bag. I was ready.

Then the front door swung open.

Joseph was back. Early. He looked tan. Tired in a satisfied way.

“Lois?” He saw the suitcase. His eyes flickered with panic. “Where are you going?”

My heart jumped, but my face was calm. “Some of the other Lunas invited me to the forest springs. For a few days. A little break.”

He let out a breath. Came to hug me. “You scared me. I thought-”

He stopped. His eyes landed on my phone, lighting up on the table.

A notification. [The asset bond under your name has been successfully dissolved. All Gold Claws have been transferred…]

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Chapter 71

His whole body changed. He snatched the phone “Dissolved? What is this?”

I took it back, faking annoyance. “That? Just spam. Those human hackers are everywhere lately Apfishing to

It was a bad lie. Full of holes.

But his own phone rang then. Ada’s special ringtone.

He didn’t push it. “Oh. Right. Well, be careful. Council’s got an emergency. I have to go.” He forced a smile. “Have fun at the springs

He didn’t even change. He shifted right there and ran out the door.

I watched him go. “Goodbye,” I said, quiet.

When he was long gone, I pulled out my burner phone. Opened the encrypted channel.

Recipient: Joseph.

Attachment: A full 2GB of data. Memory crystals.

Everything. Every nasty message, every photo, every video Ada sent me over two months. Every chat log where he bad-mouthed me.

My little going-away present. It would keep him busy.

I set it to send the moment I crossed the border. Then I took out the SIM, crushed it to dust with my claws, and flushed it.

I grabbed my suitcase. Looked back once at the empty den.

Goodbye, Joseph.

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