The Alpha's Christmas Kiss

2.

Chapter 2: The Kiss That Changed Everything

I stand there, stunned, as the echoes of laughter and applause ring in my ears. Claire, ever the enthusiastic cheerleader, is practically dragging me away from the mistletoe and back toward the snack table. I feel a strange mix of emotions bubbling up in me—confusion, embarrassment, and something else, something I can’t quite put my finger on.

"That was amazing!" Claire exclaims, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I knew it! The mistletoe didn’t disappoint!"

"I didn’t want to do that," I mutter, tugging at the sleeves of my sweater, trying to shake off the weirdness of the moment. "They just—"

"Jessica, come on," Claire interrupts with a teasing grin. "Three of the hottest guys in school kiss you, and you’re complaining? Are you really going to act like you didn’t enjoy it?"

I roll my eyes, but the truth is, I can’t stop thinking about it. Trevor’s quick peck on my cheek had been soft, almost polite. Seven’s kiss had been playful, lingering just a little longer than necessary. But Ace... Ace’s kiss. His lips barely brushed mine, but it felt like my whole body had been set on fire. It wasn’t just a kiss—it was like a spark had ignited something deep inside me, something I didn’t even know was there.

I swallow hard, trying to shake off the thought. "It’s just the mistletoe, Claire. Nothing more."

She looks at me skeptically. "Yeah, sure, just the mistletoe." She giggles. "You’re acting like you didn’t notice the way Ace looked at you."

I freeze. "What do you mean?"

"Come on, Jess," Claire says, lowering her voice. "The way he looked at you... I’m telling you, there’s something there. I’ve never seen him look at anyone like that before."

I shake my head, trying to push the image of Ace’s intense gaze out of my mind. "No. You’re imagining things."

"Maybe," she says with a mischievous grin. "But maybe not."

Before I can respond, I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn to find Trevor standing behind me, his dark eyes catching mine.

"Jessica," he says, his voice smooth but with a hint of amusement. "You disappeared too quickly. I didn’t get a chance to talk to you."

I blink, taken aback by how easily he catches my attention. "Uh, I didn’t think there was much to talk about," I say, trying to keep my tone light.

"Oh, there’s always something to talk about," Trevor replies with a smile. "Would you like to grab some punch with me?"

I glance over at Claire, who gives me a thumbs-up and a wink before disappearing into the crowd. I hesitate for a moment, unsure of what to do. But there’s something about Trevor’s confidence, his charm, that draws me in. It’s hard to ignore the way he seems to notice every little thing about me.

"Sure," I say, surprising myself. "I’ll have some punch."

We walk toward the punch bowl in silence, and as I pour myself a cup, I can feel Trevor’s eyes on me. It’s not a playful look like before; it’s different now. His gaze is intense, almost like he’s trying to figure me out, piece me together. I try to ignore the fluttering in my stomach, but it’s impossible.

"You know," Trevor says, breaking the silence, "I never thought I’d see the day when I’d be kissing someone under the mistletoe."

I glance at him, trying to keep my voice steady. "I didn’t think it’d happen either."

He chuckles softly, his smile making the edges of his jawline sharp in the dim light. "You don’t strike me as the type who enjoys the attention."

I shrug, taking a sip of my punch. "I guess I’m just not into the whole holiday thing."

Trevor raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Not even the mistletoe?"

I shake my head, trying to brush off the awkwardness. "No, I guess I’m just not the ‘kissing under mistletoe’ kind of girl."

"That’s a shame," he says, his voice low. "Because it looks like you’re exactly that kind of girl. You just don’t realize it yet."

I feel a twinge of something deep inside me, but I don’t know what it is. Something about Trevor’s words makes me feel exposed, like he’s seeing straight through me. But before I can say anything else, Seven appears out of nowhere, slapping Trevor on the back.

"Hey, you two," Seven grins, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You guys getting cozy over here?"

Trevor rolls his eyes but doesn’t look away from me. "Something like that."

Seven looks between us, clearly amused. "Well, don’t take too long, man. There’s a party to enjoy, and I’m not about to be the one to miss all the fun."

Trevor gives him a sideways glance but says nothing. Instead, he steps closer to me, his tone softening. "You know, Jessica, I didn’t think you’d be here tonight. I thought for sure you’d avoid the whole thing."

I frown, my guard going up. "I wasn’t planning on it," I admit. "But Claire wouldn’t let me skip."

"She’s good at convincing people," Trevor says with a knowing smile. "She’s a lot like her brother that way."

I don’t say anything. I’m still processing everything that’s happened tonight, everything that’s been said and done. Trevor and Seven’s teasing, their attention—it all feels like too much. But at the same time, I can’t help but feel drawn to them.

Before I can speak, Ace appears, standing just behind Trevor. His presence is like a jolt to my senses. Unlike his brothers, Ace is quieter, more composed, but there’s something about him that feels… different.

"Everything okay here?" Ace asks, his voice smooth and calm, almost like he’s testing the waters.

I nod, trying to hide the way my heart skips a beat at his voice. "Yeah, we’re just talking."

Ace looks between Trevor and me, his gaze lingering just a moment too long. "Well, don’t let me interrupt," he says, his voice laced with something I can’t quite place.

Trevor glances at him, then back at me, his lips curling into a smile. "We were just getting started, but I think Seven’s right—we’re wasting the night standing around here."

Seven grins. "Exactly! Let’s dance, guys. It’s Christmas!"

Ace doesn’t say anything at first. He simply steps back, his eyes fixed on me, and for a moment, I feel like I’m the only person in the room. His gaze is steady, unyielding, like he’s waiting for something. But what?

I swallow, unsure of what to do. I look between the three of them, trying to keep my emotions in check. I don’t know what this is, what they want from me, but for some reason, I can’t walk away.

"Come on," Trevor presses, his voice smooth and coaxing. "You’re not going to let us have all the fun, are you?"

I hesitate. "I’m not much of a dancer."

Seven laughs, a deep, warm sound. "Don’t worry. You won’t be alone."

And then, Ace steps forward. His eyes meet mine, and in that moment, I feel like everything is slowing down, like the whole world is focused on us. "You don’t have to dance, Jessica," he says quietly. "But don’t let the night pass without having some fun."

His words hit me harder than they should. There’s something in his voice, something that makes me feel like I matter, like he sees me in a way that no one else does.

I look at him for a long moment, then at Trevor and Seven, both of whom are waiting for me to make a decision.

"Okay," I say finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "I’ll dance."

And just like that, the night takes on a different energy. The music swells, the lights twinkle brighter, and for the first time in a long while, I feel like maybe, just maybe, I belong.