Chapter 62: UNFORTUNATELY, I'M NOT ACCEPTED BY EITHER SIDE

**Harper's POV**

Bad dreams.

I woke up from palpitations. Touching Wyatt's leather sofa, I consoled myself that I had escaped Karina. My heart didn't slow down due to self-assurance, as deep down, I knew this nightmare was far from over.

Muffled male voices arguing at the door. It was Wyatt. I couldn't help but approach the door. Another voice was Steven's.

"Luna", "witch", "race", and "betrayal" - these were the words I heard as I approached. I didn't catch the whole sentence, but I understood what Steven was trying to prove. Steven is talking about me. My heart sank, without anger. He was just stating a fact.

I crouched slowly by the door, Wyatt's deep voice echoing from the other side of the wooden plank, "No more arguments. An Alpha who can't protect his Luna can't protect his pack." My eyes burned. Wyatt was being an idiot.

Tears seeped through my hands and covered my face. The way he protected me made me feel warm and guilty.

After a while, there was a soft knock on the door. "Harper, is it okay if I come in?" I wiped my face, stood up and opened the door.

"You've been crying?" He looked at my face. Surely my red eyes gave it all away.

"Some bad dreams." I shook my head. "It doesn't matter."

"I'm sorry, Harper." Every word Wyatt said felt like a pounding on my eardrums. "I shouldn't have acted that way toward you."

"It's okay, Wyatt." I managed a strained smile. "I understand."

Wyatt wanted to say more, but he stopped himself. I could almost see the hesitation in his mind. I grabbed his right hand, trying to appear calm and relaxed. "If there's something you want to tell me, I'm here. Anything."

He lifted his hand and tucked my hair behind my ear. Sat silently on the couch. I walked over and stayed by his side. I took a deep breath. "Wyatt, about Karina, I think I might try to recall more. I want to help you end this fight sooner."

I wasn't sure if this was what Wyatt wanted to ask, but it should be useful to him.

If there's one thing I know about Wyatt Elliot, it's that he's always striving to be a good alpha. The opposite of his father. The kind of Alpha who genuinely cares for every member of his pack. It means a lot to him. If our relationship comes at the cost of sacrificing his goals, I'd rather step back. Love is about giving, not taking, right?

I suppressed the nauseous feeling in my stomach and began to recall everything Karina had told me.

Witches are crazy. When I was still a 'little werewolf' I often heard others say that. They were right. Karina was an exaggerated lunatic.

I tried to separate the truth from the lies in her words like different colored beans, but I failed. Except for her not being my mother, which I'm pretty certain about, the other true and false parts were tightly interwoven. I could only pour all these colored beans in front of me and Wyatt.

"So, she told you that over a decade ago, werewolves attempted to enslave witches. She happened to fall in love with Carter around the same time, and you are their child.

Then Alexander took her by force, causing her to leave you. Driven by her hatred for Alexander and the rage between werewolves and witches, she killed... my mother. And now she's plotting the current battle," Wyatt said calmly, and I saw his hands crossed, his index finger trembling slightly.

"Yes... your summary is very... accurate and clear," I bit my lips. "She can't possibly be my mother, Wyatt."

"Of course." Wyatt nodded, "Simon is almost your age. Witches can't have such a fast pregnancy cycle."

Right, I forgot about Simon. He should be like me, a 'half-blood', and the feeling of wanting to throw up in my stomach grew stronger. "What's Simon's wolf like?" I asked.

Wyatt raised an eyebrow. "No Alpha abilities, but still barely considered a wolf. If he really has wizard blood, then he's wasted the magic in his blood all these years being a fool."

I laughed at the sarcastic joke, but it also made me a little melancholy. It seemed that being the offspring of both witches and werewolves was a genetic tragedy. "Guess he didn't get the good part. What's next? At least half of what Karina said was made up."

Wyatt nodded slightly. "We might be able to find some information in the record of how Karina became the new Luna Queen." He stood up from the couch. "I need to visit the Elder. He might still be in the city."

"You're going to find someone in King City? I saw many soldiers when I came out," I tried to arrange my sentences, which were chaotic due to the sudden surge of nervousness. "It's too dangerous, Wyatt."

"There are some secret paths known only to a few werewolves, enough to keep witches and bears at bay." Wyatt smiled, and I realized he hadn't smiled like that in a long time. "I need to share the results of our discussion with the warriors. Wait for me here, alright?"

I nodded, and he rushed out like a whirlwind. My thoughts were still spinning fast. Fuck, I should tell him which areas have more soldiers and that Karina is likely still in that emerald-adorned castle... I need to catch up with Wyatt and tell him these things.

I opened the door, ready to dash out, but Steven blocked my way. "Sorry, Miss Harper, we can't be sure if your link with Karina is still active. You'd better not leave this room for the time being."

I deflated like a balloon pricked with a needle. I hate that Steven is right, again.

Steven closed the door. My hands instinctively wrapped around my body, seeking some semblance of security.

Wyatt and I both avoided the elephant in the room when we talked.

Even if I could think of a thousand possible ways to actually get out of Karina's clutches. But the truth is, as long as I have the half blood of the witch, that possible link will never be broken. And the pain and hatred between witches and werewolves won't go away.

To add insult to injury, I'm not accepted by either side.