The Alpha's Christmas Kiss

4.

Chapter 4: Unspoken Truths

The crisp night air is a sharp contrast to the warmth of the house we’ve just left behind. I stand by the garden fence, feeling the cool breeze nudge against my skin, while Ace stands beside me, his hands stuffed deep into his jacket pockets. The silence stretches between us, almost as thick as the air, but somehow it doesn’t feel uncomfortable. It feels... right.

Ace’s eyes flicker over to me, and there’s a glimmer of something unspoken in his gaze, something I can’t quite place. He takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly like he’s weighing something in his mind. Finally, he speaks.

“You know,” he says, his voice steady but laced with a hint of something I can’t quite name. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this before. You’re different. Tonight, I mean.”

I stiffen slightly, trying to figure out what he means by that. “Different?” I ask, unsure of what he’s getting at.

He chuckles softly, the sound more like a thoughtful murmur than an actual laugh. “Yeah. You’re not the girl who hides in the corner anymore. You’re... part of the night. For once, it’s like you’re not pretending to be invisible.”

I turn to face him, eyes wide with surprise. “I’m not pretending,” I say, almost defensively, though I don’t really know why. “It’s just that I... don’t like being the center of attention.”

Ace raises an eyebrow, his lips curling slightly into a smirk. “Is that what you think? That no one’s looking at you?” He shakes his head slightly, his eyes searching mine. “Jessica, people notice you. You just don’t see it. You don’t see how much everyone’s drawn to you.”

The weight of his words hangs heavy in the air, and I swallow hard, feeling a lump form in my throat. It’s strange, this mixture of feelings swirling inside me. I want to argue with him, but something in his gaze makes me pause.

“I don’t need anyone’s attention,” I mutter, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t want it.”

Ace steps a little closer to me, his eyes not leaving mine. “But what if you do? What if you want to be seen, just for once?” He reaches out and gently tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers brushing my skin. The touch is light, but it sends a spark through me, and I can’t help but feel a shiver run down my spine.

I step back slightly, trying to distance myself from the rush of emotions suddenly flooding me. “Why are you saying all this?” I ask, my voice shaky, though I’m not entirely sure why.

Ace shrugs, the flicker of mischief still dancing in his eyes. “Maybe I just want you to know that you matter, Jessica. That you don’t have to hide. Not from us.”

I open my mouth to say something, but the words get stuck. What is he saying? Does he mean... Does he mean he cares?

Before I can find my voice, there’s a loud burst of laughter from inside the house, followed by a chorus of cheers. I glance over at the window where the music can be heard, and then back at Ace, whose expression has shifted slightly, as if he’s become aware of the noise as well.

“Let’s go back inside,” I say, breaking the silence. “I think they’re starting the gift exchange.”

Ace nods, though there’s a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. “Yeah, let’s go.” He steps back, his hand brushing against mine as we walk back toward the door, and the contact sends another rush of heat through me.

When we enter, Trevor and Seven are already mingling with the rest of the guests, laughing and teasing each other in that easy, natural way they do. But it’s different now. The room feels smaller somehow, like everyone’s attention has shifted, like the conversation has moved to me without anyone saying a word.

Trevor spots us almost immediately and smiles, his eyes lighting up as they always do when he sees me. “There you are,” he says, stepping toward me. “We were just about to start the gift exchange. You ready?”

I smile, trying to shake off the lingering thoughts of my conversation with Ace. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

Seven appears next to Trevor, his grin wide and mischievous. “We’ve got a surprise for you, Jessica,” he says, his voice teasing.

“A surprise?” I ask, my curiosity piqued.

Trevor winks at me. “You’ll see. Just wait for it.”

They lead me over to the cozy area by the fireplace, where everyone is gathering. The lights from the Christmas tree reflect off the ornaments, and the room smells like cinnamon and pine. It’s the perfect setting, the warmth of the fire contrasting with the cold night outside.

As the gift exchange begins, I realize that something feels different tonight. The three of them—Trevor, Seven, and Ace—they’re all here with me, in this moment, but they’re also all watching me. Not in an overwhelming way, but as if they’re waiting for something, as if they’re expecting me to... I don’t know, do something.

I try to focus on the gifts, on the people around me, but my thoughts keep drifting back to what Ace said outside. About how I matter. About how I’m different. It’s like I’m seeing everything through a new lens now, and I’m not sure if it’s a good thing or a bad thing.

A couple of hours later, after the gift exchange, the mood shifts from playful to more relaxed. People start drifting off to different parts of the room, and I’m left standing near the fire with Trevor, Seven, and Ace, all three of them closing in on me in their usual way, but now with a certain intensity I can’t ignore.

Trevor leans in, his voice dropping low, though his smile remains easy. “So, Jessica,” he says, his hand lightly brushing against mine. “We’ve been meaning to ask. What’s been going on with you? You’ve been so... quiet lately. We miss the girl who used to laugh at our stupid jokes.”

I look up at him, surprised by the change in his tone. There’s something different in his eyes tonight, something softer, and I feel a rush of warmth in my chest. “I’ve just... been dealing with stuff,” I admit, trying to keep my voice steady. “I guess I’ve just been focused on other things.”

Seven steps forward then, his grin wide and teasing. “Other things? Come on, Jessica, you’ve been avoiding us for months. We’re not as scary as you think.”

I chuckle nervously, but it feels forced, like I’m trying too hard to keep the conversation light. I glance over at Ace, who’s watching me with an unreadable expression. His eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I feel like he’s trying to tell me something without saying a word.

“It’s not that I’m avoiding you guys,” I say, my voice quieter now. “I just... don’t know where I fit in with all of this. You three, you’ve got everything together. You don’t need me hanging around like some... extra person.”

There’s a brief silence, and then Ace steps forward, his voice steady and serious.