A CONSPIRACY

**Third POV**

Steven's eyes dropped nervously as he began, "Your Majesty, I hate to interrupt your day, but we've got a serious situation. Last night, all hell broke loose on social media. Someone dropped a bombshell, revealing Harper's identity. They're saying she's not just any girl but a half-breed witch, and not just any witch, but a damn spy."

Handing Wyatt a laptop, Steven pointed to the headline that practically screamed at them: "Revealed: True Identity of the Werewolf King's Fiancée - Bewitching Spy Unmasked."

As Wyatt skimmed the article, he saw a photo of Harper standing alongside her mother, none other than Sophia, the head witch. The article claimed Harper was a half-breed witch who had infiltrated the werewolf kingdom under a false persona. It even accused her of using her enchanting powers on Wyatt, manipulating him into signing a treaty that favored witches while screwing over the werewolves.

"Bullshit," Wyatt scoffed as he slammed the laptop shut, his tone dripping with disdain. "Looks like someone's hell-bent on ruining our happiness ever after. Have you figured out who's pulling the strings?"

"We're working on it, Your Majesty," Steven replied, his voice a hushed tone. "We're tracing the leak, but it's like hunting a ghost. There's more than one puppeteer, and the anti-witch sentiment is getting them a following. Protests are cropping up. People are parading at Central Square, demanding you break things off with Harper and nix that peace deal."

Wyatt stood up, pulling back the curtains to peer outside. The Central Square was a sea of fervent activity, and a group stood out as the most vocal.

They were waving crimson placards, emblazoned with slogans like "Banish Harper from Werewolf Land" and "Harper: Witchy Spy." Some even displayed maliciously edited images of Harper.

Clutching his fists, veins pulsating on his temples, Wyatt's restraint barely concealed his fiery rage. He knew well the sacrifices Harper had made for the werewolf nation. No one had the right to slander her.

He understood there were forces resistant to change, but Harper's name wasn't their ticket to resistance. It was time to cut out the corruption that was eating away in their world.

With a cold, determined gaze, Wyatt turned to Steven. "Send out all the Nightmare members. This is a conspiracy, be sure to find the mastermind behind it. They'll pay."

______

Harper's anxiety reached its peak when Wyatt chose the fifth day of the uproar surrounding her to lead her to the podium in Central Square.

Not to mention that this day coincided with the Werewolf Nation's own Independence Day celebrations.

With conviction, Wyatt insisted on making the announcement today: Harper was his wife and the nation's new Luna Queen. Even though the country's "witch scare" was at its height.

Harper couldn't lift her eyes from the comments that hadn't yet invaded her online world. She couldn't fathom the magnitude of the impact that the message "NEW LUNA IS A WITCH" would bring to the masses.

But Wyatt didn't give her a chance to refuse. They'd already exhausted arguments about how to face the public, fruitless debates. In the end, Wyatt's unwavering confidence made Harper wonder if they were up against not one but two challenges.

"Wyatt, I can't do this," Harper said. Her voice filled with doubt even as she tried to find a glimmer of hope. The chill on her skin mirrored her apprehension. "It's too risky. We're throwing gasoline onto the fire of their anger."

"It's not gasoline, Harper. It's a wake-up call. They need to see the truth," Wyatt's voice was serious. Today, he donned a velvet suit with threads of gold, commanding the attention of all who beheld him.

Harper had no choice. The car whisked them from the palace to Central Square. They traversed the streets of the city, dressed up in festive decorations for Independence Day. Windows and doorways sparkled. Moon-themed elements adorned every corner of the nation.

Harper realized that if Wyatt went through with his plan, this joyful atmosphere would shatter.

Was it really necessary to go this far?

Most of the crowd hadn't gathered yet. The festivities in Central Square were slated to begin later in the evening. In the midst of scattered groups, some noticed the arrival of the Alpha King and began to murmur.

Wyatt held Harper's hand gently but firmly as they took their seats on a raised platform in the square. People were assembling; something significant was about to unfold.

Wyatt clicked on his microphone, even though the King's words could easily be shared through their mind link. Yet, the crowd gathered in Central Square was swelling organically. Wyatt's face appeared on the massive screen, capturing everyone's attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen, there's been a lot of chatter lately, especially concerning witches. It's sent shockwaves through our community."

As the anticipation of the crowd grew palpable, Wyatt's gaze remained resolute. "I understand there are questions about my partner, Miss Harper. I promise to address them. But I ask that we all approach this with a clear head and open hearts."

Harper felt her heart race as Wyatt's words resonated, each one echoing like a powerful rhythm.

A vintage document appeared on the screen, its title, "WITCH HUNTS," in bold letters. Former Beta Brent stepped onto the stage, his demeanor subdued. He began speaking in measured tones.

"…As the most loyal confidant of the late King Alexander and a devoted general of our kind, my allegiance to the werewolf cause blinded me. It led me to overlook fundamental values. When His Majesty proposed the witch hunt, I didn’t voice any opposition.”

Brent’s words reopened a chapter from a decade past. The memories of brutal assassinations and wrongful imprisonments resurfaced, connecting the dots in the minds of many. Decades of tension and animosity finally found a point of origin.

A hushed silence settled over the crowd. Wyatt's voice broke the silence, unwavering, "Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Harper is indeed a unique mixture of werewolf and witch blood. But instead of blindly accepting accusations, we must strive to understand the whole truth."

“Mommy, look! It’s Luna Harper!” A child’s voice cut through the quiet, and Harper’s gaze shifted to Ruby. The little girl beamed as she clutched her mother’s hand, excitement lighting up her eyes. “Luna Harper, see? My boo-boo’s all healed!” She pointed proudly at her thigh. Ruby’s mother smiled warmly, “Thank you, Miss Harper. Thank you for everything. You've always been a good man, and I'm sure you haven't done any of those dastardly things.”

Ruby's courage seemed to spread like wildfire, igniting a spark in the crowd. Soon, many of the citizens who had been helped by Harper began to chant her name.

"I also believe Miss Harper. I've seen her kill a lot of bears!"

"I believe in her too. She helped me heal my eyes."

"I believe..."

"I believe..."

...

Their voices joined together in a powerful chorus. Some even began to rally behind slogans such as "Luna Harper".

A gentle chuckle escaped Wyatt’s lips. "It seems I didn't need to summon my warriors to show what my Luna had really done for the people." Passing the microphone to Harper, Wyatt held her gaze, his eyes steady and reassuring. Perhaps he was right, there was no reason to fear.

Taking the microphone, Harper met the crowd’s eyes with a steady gaze. “I am Harper Laurier. I am not a witch spy, nor am I a traitor to our werewolf heritage. I am not what rumors paint me to be. For the past two decades, I’ve been a regular member of this pack..."

Harper began to talk about her experiences growing up over the years and her call for peace as one of the victims of war. Thanks to the righteousness of Ruby and some of the citizens, the crowd calmed down and listened attentively.

"...If anything’s changed, it’s that I’m here to bridge the gap and strengthen the bond between our races."

By the end of Harper's speech, everyone was silenced and touched by Harper's complicated past and sincere appeal.

Wyatt took the microphone again and announced the signing of the peace treaty and a number of new policies that would benefit the people.

The dissenting voices dwindled, even faster than Harper had anticipated. When Wyatt proclaimed that they would soon be united in matrimony, the faint cheers of approval grew into an exhilarating crescendo. The cheers echoed long after she left the square.

Inside the car, Harper let out a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding, feeling the weight on her heart finally lift.

Turning to Wyatt, she embraced him, her voice filled with gratitude. “Thank you for standing by me, Wyatt. Without you, I wouldn’t have…”

"Don't blame yourself, Harper. This was never your fault." Wyatt’s touch was gentle as he reassured her, “Those rumors were deliberately sown. Steven has unmasked the culprit.”

Harper’s eyes widened in surprise. She looked up at Wyatt, curiosity, and disbelief intertwining, “There’s a culprit?”

"Yes," Wyatt's lips curved into a wry smile, "and you won't believe who it is - someone you'd never expect, an 'old friend'."

Harper's brow furrowed in foreboding. "Who?"

"Your sister, Kelly."