Rejected by the Alpha of Fire

Rescued

Cindra’s POV

I turned around and blinked in surprise. Brenton and Conley looked just as shocked as a young man, who looked to be about as old as Helio, walked into the clearing. He had blond hair and blue eyes that reminded me of a cool winter moon. My gaze dropped to the silver-blue cord on his shoulder, marking him as the crown prince of the Winter Harvest Pack: Jack Caldwell.

Despite his rank, he didn’t have the hard lines in his face that Helio had, the kind that made him seem unapproachable, mean even. Instead, he had a friendly tone to his voice, a comical expression on his face, despite his warning to my cousins.

We had never spoken before, and to my knowledge, Winter Harvest and Ember Moon weren’t friendly, but his gaze was kind and considerate as he looked at me. Rather than the stoicism that seemed carved into Knox’s face, or the seriousness of Helio’s Jack’s expression made me think maybe we could be friends.

His eyes glinted as he glared at Conley and Brenton. “I’d suggest you go find something to entertain yourselves for the rest of the evening that doesn’t involve harassing this young lady.”

The air seemed to grow cold as it swept around us, colder than normal for this time of year. It had to be Jack’s power stirring in the air. Brenton and Conley sneered at me but scurried off back toward the palace. Jack watched them leave before taking a few steps closer to me. “I was told that the royal family of Ember Moon had the highest concentration of jackasses in the four kingdoms, but I didn’t want to believe it.” He turned to look at me with a wry smile. “I like to try to believe only a small portion of what I’ve been told.”

I almost giggled, caught off guard by his words. “Thank you for your help.”

“Any time. Call it a hobby: ruining assholes’ days. Are you all right?”

“As good as can be expected, Prince Jack.”

“You have me at a disadvantage,” he said, c*****g an eyebrow at me. “Though it is a pleasure to meet you…?”

I winced. “Cindra.”

His eyes widened. “Princess Cindra Azer?”

I shuffled my feet. “One and the same.” I cleared my throat, wondering if I should ask the next question. Did I want to hear the answer? “What have you heard about me?”

And how much did he believe?

“Nothing but a name.” He eyed me. “And a few irrelevant bits of information.” He chuckled softly. “No one ever mentioned how little you look like your family. You sure you’re their cousin and not mine?”

His words caught me off guard. I was wary, waiting for the sting of an insult, but none came. Then, I smiled. “I was told my father was blond.”

“Well, if you ever want to jump ship,” he replied with a grin, “a man can never have too many sisters.” He snorted. “Though Prince Warren, my younger brother, probably wouldn’t agree.”

I laughed. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

Jack’s friendly demeanor shifted as he rubbed the back of his neck, and he regarded me with a more serious expression.

“Are you okay? I saw what happened back there at the buffet table. That was really shitty of that b***h, whoever she is.”

“It’s nothing I’m not used to. Meri has always hated me. My aunt, my uncle, my cousins…”

I shrugged. “It’s just my lot in life, I guess.”

The bitterness that had always been at the back of my mind surfaced again, along with the resignation. I had always been the outcast in the family, the punching bag, too, and there was nothing I could do but endure it like I always had.

“Hey,” Jack said, coming a little closer. His eyes were sympathetic. The air stirred around us, cool and welcoming. “You know you don’t have to take that.”

I laughed. “And what am I supposed to do?”

“Bullies only get away with it until you land one good punch in the jaw, you know?” Jack grinned. “Should I teach you how to throw a punch?”

I laughed and shook my head. “I’m already very un-ladylike. Fighting might be pushing it too far.”

Jack scoffed. “Tell that to my little sister, Princess Blanche. She’ll punch someone at the least provocation and freeze them in place for good measure.”

I grinned, imagining the look on Brenton’s or Conley’s face if they’d been frozen in place. Neither of them had much control over their flames, not like Helio. They’d be stuck there for hours. Aiden, too.

Jack sighed, sank down on the bench, and nodded toward the seat beside him.

“Care to join?” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I promise I won’t bite.”

I hesitated for a moment, not knowing Jack well, but the comfort and goodness he exuded eased my hesitation. I sat beside him, relaxing in the silence of the night and the feeling of the wind through my hair, which was still damp and sticky from whatever was in it.

“Any luck?” Jack asked, nodding toward the castle. “Felt the pull at all?”

I bit my lip and nodded, but I didn’t say anything else. His eyes narrowed for a moment before he nodded and sighed, sitting back on his hands.

“What about you?”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Nope.” There was a tinge of sadness in his voice, and it was clear that the subject was a sore point for him. “Neither did my sister,” Jack added, his tone reflecting a sense of disappointment.

“You said you had a lot of sisters?”

“We left most of them at home with Warren, my younger brother. Dad promised to make it up to him if he could keep them from running amok while we were gone. It’s just me and Aira here.”

“What’s she like?”

He hissed. “Too sweet for her own good. Like a little ice fairy. Dad swears up and down that she inherited her sweetness from Mom, and while I agree, I’m worried for her. She’s taking it a bit hard.”

“It sounds like you’re close.” I gave him a soft smile, wondering what it would be like to have a nice big brother like Jack.

“We are,” he said with a sigh. “I’ve been looking after her since I could barely walk. We’re only two years apart in age. What about you?”

I nodded back toward the palace. “You’ve met my cousins.”

“There’s no one in the castle on your side?” he asked.

I thought of my one friend. Should I even tell him about her? A maid? “Well, there’s—”

“Cindra,” a deep voice rumbled from nearby.

I almost jumped out of my skin, turning to look around, searching for who it could be.

“Looks like you’ve got some business to handle. I’ll get out of your hair.” Jack rose smoothly to his feet, elegant as the prince he was. “It was nice meeting you, Princess Cindra.”

I wanted him to stay, but I couldn’t get my lips to form the words, and I stared at his back as he strode back toward the lights of the castle with his hands in his pockets. The light pouring out of the ballroom windows cast a halo on his blond head. I ached for him to come back already.

How long had it been since someone had been kind to me?

“Cindra,” the voice rumbled again.

I squeaked, spun to the voice, and peered into the growing shadows. “Who’s there?”