I'M HERE FOR A BETTER FUTURE

**Third POV**

The faint light of dawn seeped through the gaps in the curtains, casting soft shadows on the floor. Everything was so tranquil. Harper woke up first, she was tightly enveloped in Wyatt's arms.

Six past five in the morning, the clock on the wall read.

Harper felt that this was the best sleep she had had in a while. She gently pulled Wyatt's arm away from her and attempted to leave the bed without making any noise.

She failed at the first step. The mattress creaked. And she heard Wyatt's soft laughter behind her. "Morning, puppy."

His voice was slightly husky from just waking up, which made it sound particularly alluring. Harper felt a little embarrassed as she turned to meet Wyatt's deep gaze.

The deep green silk sheet rested lightly on his waist. He lazily propped his head up on his arm, revealing his broad shoulders and chiseled chest and abs, the toned lines of which extended to where the covers covered them. "Where are you going, honey?"

Harper cleared her throat, trying to keep her tone steady. "I'm going to the medical station. Um, to work."

Wyatt lifted his face slightly, pointing in the direction of the clock. "At six?" There was a hint of teasing in his eyes.

Harper's cheeks were slightly flushed. "Well, I'm gonna take a shower first."

The mischievous grin didn't leave Wyatt's face. He pulled back the covers and walked straight up to Harper. Then, he wrapped his arms around her again, pressing their bodies together. It brought back some wild memories of last night.

Harper's face grew even redder, and she gently pushed Wyatt away. "Healers have an early meeting this morning. I really need to go."

"Pretty sad for me to fall in love with a workaholic," Wyatt pinched Harper's cheek. "So, what do you think, Miss Harper?"

Harper looked at Wyatt with confusion. Wyatt sighed in resignation and then pinched her nose. "To be my Luna, my queen, Harper."

Harper paused, remembering what Wyatt had whispered in her ear yesterday. She avoided Wyatt's intense gaze. "I think, perhaps now is not the right timing, Wyatt."

There was a slight stiffness in Wyatt's body. After a brief silence, he asked, "Did something happen, Harper?"

Harper picked up her T-shirt from the floor and put it on. She sat down on the edge of the bed. Wyatt came over, his face glistening in the sunlight as if dusted with a layer of golden powder.

"It's my identity, Wyatt." Harper said slowly, "I feel that the werewolves might not accept someone with witch's blood as their leader's wife, the queen."

Wyatt furrowed his brow. "They will respect my decision, since they chose me to be their leader."

"I know, but..." Harper took Wyatt's hand, "We need more than just their forced approval. Wyatt, do you know what I saw at the medical station yesterday?"

Wyatt shook his head gently, his hand gripping Harper's tightly.

"A lot of families have been destroyed. There's a three-year-old baby who lost his parents in this war. He's an orphan, though he doesn't know it yet. Bears and witches are the direct culprits, aren't they? Almost the entire royal city is in a state of immense heartbreak and pain. How can you expect them to accept a witch as their queen now? It's too cruel." Harper's eyes were swollen and she fought back tears.

The air grew heavy and pressurized. Wyatt's voice was a little hoarse and dry. "Harper, I know what you mean. The war may be over, but the wounds are just beginning to heal." A shadow fell across Wyatt's face. "I'll take care of everything. But I need you."

He kissed the side of Harper's face. "I need you, Miss Harper, to be my wife. I don't want to wait any longer..."

______

"The subsidies have been distributed, Your Majesty. The medicines and medical supplies are also in place," Steven reported to Wyatt.

Key officials from the Ministries of Health, Justice, and Finance were gathered around the long table, awaiting Wyatt's instructions.

"What do you think our next step should be?" Wyatt sat to one side, his brow furrowed. "How does the public view this war? As a random catastrophe or an ambush by the bears and witches?"

"People are hoping to find the culprits," Steven said. "We've lost so much."

Wyatt turned to face everyone in the room, his gaze steady. "I don't want to offer my people a scapegoat to release their hatred. I believe what they need more is the truth."

The ministers looked at Wyatt tensely, waiting for him to continue.

Wyatt's voice became firmer. "I think we should make public my father's witch-hunting crimes from over twenty years ago."

An oppressive silence fell over the scene. Steven broke it, his tone filled with concern and unease. "Your Majesty, I believe this may be too risky. The public could lose complete faith in their government and their leader."

Wyatt's grip tightened. "Steven, I understand your pain. Twenty years ago the war with the witches took your friends and family from you. They, like all those lost in that war, were innocent and deserved more of life. If we hadn't been blinded by greed and arrogance, we wouldn't have gotten to this point.

Steven lowered his head. Wyatt stood and patted him on the shoulder. "The witches won't choose constant conflict with us; it's not in their interests. The Bears, if they maintain their current tyrannical rule, will still need our vigilance.

But our greatest enemy is ourselves. My father and my brother were both wrong. Now I will correct that mistake.

I will openly choose my Beta, who will be my assistant and serve as my oversight."

The room buzzed with discussion. Steven persisted, "Your Majesty, witches and bears don't seem to be taking this lying down..."

He was interrupted by a knock at the door. The guard announced the presence of Elder Aldcirus and a female guest. Wyatt waved to welcome them.

"Your Majesty, I thought you might like to meet this lady," Elder Aldcirus came in with a smile.

The woman behind him stepped forward. As she removed her hood, revealing her face, everyone present was taken aback.

"I am Sofia, the new head of the witch clan. Alpha Wyatt, I'm here for a better future."