Fool's hope.
768 Words
"Dean's POV"
I frowned at the name on my phone. Uncle Lucien.
The strange thing was... he never called. I didn’t even know he had my number.
"Hello?" I picked up, curiosity getting the best of me.
"Dean, hi. It’s Lucien. I heard the news—you’re getting engaged. Congratulations, boy."
There was a pause.
I inhaled sharply.
"I haven’t said yes yet, Uncle."
Lucien chuckled. "Thought so. Didn’t sound like your idea. But that’s not the only reason I’m calling. We discussed your request for support at the council. I suggested sending a few of the Academy’s best—if that’s alright with you. Though... things have gotten a lot more interesting lately. Dean, I think it’s time you and I had a proper talk. Catch up on what we’ve missed. If you don’t mind, I’d like to attend your engagement ceremony as well."
He was right. We hadn’t been in contact for years.
But something in his voice made me wonder… did he know more than he let on?
Ridiculous. Even if we hadn’t seen each other in ages, I didn’t believe Lucien had changed.
And yet, my gut told me I shouldn’t ignore his offer to catch up.
"You’re welcome here, Uncle. I’d be glad if you came. According to my father, I’m supposed to meet my fiancée next week. Once I know more, I’ll let you know."
"Send my regards to your father and my sister, boy. I’m sure they’ll be as happy to see me as I’ll be to see them."
Uncle Lucien had always been the rational one in our family.
When I was little, he used to visit often. Then one day, he just... stopped coming.
And not just that. I remember his last visit clearly.
He had a heated argument with my parents—stormed out afterward, furious.
He said they were hiding things from him, never giving straight answers.
My mother tried to calm him down, saying he was imagining things, that it was understandable… considering what had happened.
But my father exploded. If Mom hadn’t been there, I don’t know how that would’ve ended.
I hadn’t seen Lucien since.
Fine i will let him come. Maybe I’ll finally learn what really happened that day.
He wasn’t wrong—my parents had started acting secretive.
While my father lived in his own version of reality, my mother had become more distant with each passing day.
She barely left her room anymore. She didn’t care about anyone or anything.
She even stopped seeing me.
Or… she used to. Eventually, I gave up trying.
"Max, you awake?" I reached out to him through the mind link.
"Got something going on." He replied.
I rolled my eyes. Of course he did.
"My uncle called. The council approved our request. They’re sending someone from the Academy… and Uncle Lucien is coming too."
"For f**k’s sake. Not the Academy. That’s not help—that’s a damn punishment."
"I know, it’s pointless… But if we picked them up, maybe I’d get to see Savanah.
I’d roll in with my jeep, wearing a black tank top, ripped jeans, combat boots, and my pilot jacket. I’d look tough and—"
"Dude. You’d look pathetic and desperate."
Max didn’t even try to sugarcoat it. "Look, I know you miss her. But don’t forget—you weren’t the only one she left without saying goodbye.
Hate to crush your fantasy, but she’s been at the Academy for years. That girl we knew? She’s gone.
I doubt even Prince Charming on a white horse could bring her to her knees.
Even if he showed up as the big bad Alpha dressed in black."
Max always knew how to kill hope in record time.
"Thanks for that. You really know how to lift a guy’s spirits."
"Karma," he said with a shrug. "You ruined a very promising hookup for me, remember?"
I sighed.
"So... have you talked to your father yet?"
"Looks like I won’t need to. Apparently, the entire council already knows about your engagement to Harper.
Actually, I think everyone knows."
"Beautiful," I muttered. "Everyone finds out before I do."
Max laughed, but I wasn’t exactly amused.
"Okay, okay. Maybe dragging Savanah into this mess right now isn’t the best idea.
Let them send whoever they want from the Academy. We’ll keep our distance… at least for now."
"Dean, go to sleep. We’ll deal with it all tomorrow."
"You’re right. See you then."
I really should get some rest—I hadn’t slept in almost two days.
Tomorrow we set things in motion.
I needed to be ready.
- Writer
