The Alpha's Christmas Kiss

Chapter 1: The Mistletoe Kiss I stand in the corner of the decorated gymnasium, feeling like an outsider at my own high school’s Christmas party. The air is thick with excitement, laughter, and the kind of holiday cheer that makes my stomach churn. Everyone else is having fun—couples on the dance floor, friends huddled around tables piled high with food, and the soft, tinkling sound of holiday music playing over the speakers. I glance around, trying to spot anyone familiar, but no one seems to notice me. My best friend Claire is dancing with her boyfriend, and even Logan, my ex, is tangled up with his new girlfriend, Emily. Just last week, Logan told me that he found his "true match"—whatever that means—and that was the last straw. I should’ve known it would happen sooner or later. He always had that confident, “alpha” energy about him, like he was destined for something greater. I, on the other hand, always just felt like... well, like a shadow. It’s fine. Really. I don’t care. I look down at my phone, pretending to check the time. I wasn’t planning on coming here tonight, but Claire insisted. "You can’t skip out, Jess! It’ll be fun, trust me," she’d said, practically dragging me out of my house earlier today. "Besides, the mistletoe is waiting for you. Maybe you'll meet someone new!" The idea of being under the mistletoe with anyone right now sounds absurd. The gym is decked out in Christmas decorations—twinkling lights, fake snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, and a massive tree in the center with ornaments that shimmer in the dim lights. It’s beautiful, no doubt, but it only makes the emptiness in my chest feel heavier. I feel like the only person who isn’t caught up in the magic of the holiday season. "Jessica!" I turn around, startled. Claire, as usual, appears out of nowhere, her bright smile cutting through the sea of people. Her blonde hair bounces as she skips over to me, a cup of punch in hand. "You okay? You’ve been standing here forever!" she asks, eyeing me with concern. "I’m fine," I reply quickly, forcing a smile. "Just… enjoying the view." I gesture vaguely at the crowd. She raises an eyebrow. "Are you sure? You’ve barely said anything all night. This party’s supposed to be fun!" I shrug. "It’s fine, really." I glance over at Logan again, my stomach twisting as I see him laughing with Emily. The sight stings, but I try not to let it show. Claire follows my gaze and lets out a sigh. "You know, Jess, if you don’t start moving on, he’s going to keep affecting you. He’s not worth it." I nod, but the words feel hollow. How can I move on when he’s everywhere, reminding me of everything we could’ve been? Before I can respond, Claire’s face lights up. "Wait, look! Over there!" She points excitedly toward the far side of the gym, where three guys are standing together, laughing. I follow her gaze, not sure what she’s so excited about. The three guys are dressed in formal suits—obviously, they’re not typical high school party-goers. But what catches my attention isn’t just their looks, it’s the way they carry themselves. The confident, almost magnetic energy they exude seems to draw everyone’s eyes toward them. Trevor, Seven, and Ace. They’re triplets, but they couldn’t be more different. Trevor is the serious one, always with a book or a legal document in hand, like he’s on a mission even when he’s relaxing. Seven, on the other hand, is the rebellious one. A biker with a bit of a dangerous edge, he’s got that bad-boy vibe that makes everyone pay attention. And then there’s Ace. He’s quieter, more reserved, but when he speaks, people listen. And the way he looks at me sometimes makes my heart skip. Claire smirks when she notices me staring. "What? You’ve never noticed them before?" I shake my head quickly, but my cheeks are warm. "They’re… just guys." "Just guys?" Claire laughs. "Those ‘guys’ are practically gods around here. You should talk to them!" I scoff. "Yeah, right." Before she can say anything else, there’s a commotion near the door. A sudden cheer erupts from the crowd, and I turn to see what’s happening. The triplets have made their way to the center of the room, and the crowd parts for them as if they’re royalty. Trevor smiles politely at some of the teachers, while Seven is already high-fiving some of the jocks. Ace, as always, hangs back, his eyes scanning the room. Then, he looks straight at me. I freeze. For a moment, it feels like everything else disappears. The music fades. The people around me blur into the background. It’s just me and Ace. And the way he’s looking at me—it’s different from the way anyone else looks at me. It’s like he can see straight through me, into something deeper. But before I can process my thoughts, the moment is broken as Claire grabs my arm. "You’re staring at him, Jess. Stop!" she whispers. "Shut up," I mutter, but I can feel the heat on my face. Just as I try to turn away, something strange happens. I look up at the mistletoe hanging above the punch table, and for no reason, my heart starts racing. I don’t even know why I care. "Hey, Jessica!" I look back over at Claire, who is giving me a sly grin. "Mistletoe," she says, nudging me toward it. "Time for your kiss!" I frown. "No thanks." But before I can walk away, I feel a strong hand on my shoulder. I turn, startled, and see Trevor standing there, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Jessica," he says, his voice low and smooth. "Aren’t you going to give me a kiss under the mistletoe?" I blink in surprise. "What? No. I wasn’t—" But before I can finish my sentence, Seven steps up behind Trevor, grinning widely. "I’m next," he says, a playful gleam in his eyes. Then, Ace. He’s not saying anything, but his expression is unreadable, intense. I can’t quite place it, but it makes my stomach do flips. They’re all here. All three of them, standing under the mistletoe, waiting for me. "Come on, Jess," Claire calls out from the side, her voice full of encouragement. "Just one kiss. It’ll be fun!" I shake my head, trying to back away, but the triplets aren’t letting me go. "Don’t be shy," Trevor teases, stepping closer. "We don’t bite." Seven laughs, his gaze scanning me from head to toe. "We’re just here for the kiss. No strings attached." Ace steps forward, his expression softening just a fraction. "You’re not going to run off, are you?" I don’t know what to say. What’s happening right now? Why are they acting like this? They’ve never really noticed me before, and now... now, they’re all looking at me like I’m the only person in the room. Before I can gather my thoughts, Trevor leans in and kisses me gently on the cheek. It’s quick, almost like a formality. Then Seven follows suit, his kiss on the other cheek, lingering just a bit longer. And then Ace. His lips brush mine softly, as though testing the waters. My heart beats so loud I’m sure everyone can hear it. He pulls back just enough to meet my gaze. For a split second, I swear I see something in his eyes—something deeper. Something that makes me freeze, unsure of what I’m feeling. They step back, and the crowd starts clapping, laughing, and shouting. I’m left standing there, dumbfounded, my mind reeling from what just happened. "What... just happened?" I mutter under my breath. Claire grabs my arm, her eyes wide with excitement. "I told you the mistletoe would bring you luck!" I blink at her. "I wasn’t—" But she’s already dragging me away, her laughter ringing in the air. What did I just get myself into?