THE ALPHA'S CHRISTMAS GAMBLE

Chapter 1: The Christmas Party Silvia’s POV I stand by the edge of the dance floor, my arms crossed tightly across my chest. The high school gym is decked out in garlands of green and red, Christmas lights twinkling in every corner, and the air smells faintly of cinnamon and pine. The music pulses through the speakers, loud and festive. But I can’t help feeling like a total outsider. Everyone’s already paired up. There’s Emily and Jake, Mandy and Ryan, and even shy little Hannah is holding hands with Brad, the football captain. And then there’s me—alone. The last one without a partner. I glance at the clock on the wall. It’s almost 9 p.m. The party started hours ago, but I arrived late, as usual. I wasn’t even planning on coming at all, but my mom practically dragged me here. “It’s the last Christmas party before graduation, Silvia! Don’t you want to make some memories?” she’d said. I’d rolled my eyes and told her I wasn’t interested in memories or parties, but here I am. I hate Christmas parties. They’re nothing but a contest to see who’s got the best date or the most expensive dress. I never play by those rules. I push my dark hair back behind my ear, sighing as I watch another couple twirl across the floor. I used to get asked to dance at these things—before… before everything changed. Before I got dumped by Ethan. There’s no point in thinking about him. Not tonight. I look around the room and try to find some distraction. I’m not sure what I expect to see. Maybe someone I know who can just chat and make this feel less miserable. But no, instead, my gaze lands on a group of guys across the room, standing near the punch bowl. Smart, Michael, and Adam. The triplets. I’ve known them since freshman year, and while they’re undeniably attractive, I’ve never gotten too close to any of them. They’re the school’s golden boys, each one with a different style, but all equally popular. The kind of guys everyone wants to talk to, but nobody ever quite feels worthy of. Smart is the athlete, all muscles and energy, the one who’s always joking around, always got a smirk on his face. Michael is the serious one—the brooding intellectual. I’ve always admired how smart and driven he is, but I never quite figured out what to make of him. Then there’s Adam, the laid-back one. He’s a mechanic, working part-time in his family’s garage, and he’s got that kind of charm that makes it seem like he doesn’t have a care in the world. And right now, all three of them are looking directly at me. I freeze. “Do you see that?” Smart says, pointing my way. His voice is loud enough for me to hear from across the room, but not so loud that anyone else notices. “Silvia’s standing there alone,” Adam adds with a grin, his easy smile never leaving his face. Michael just watches me with his deep brown eyes, silent, but there’s something about the way he looks at me that makes me want to shrink into the wall. I can’t explain it. He’s always been like that—quiet, intense, and full of mystery. “Hey, Silvia!” Smart calls, walking toward me. “You know, it’s not right for such a gorgeous girl to be standing all by herself. How about a dance?” I blink, taken aback. “Uh…” I look over at the dance floor. I don’t want to dance. I don’t want to be part of this charade. But before I can say anything else, Adam steps up beside Smart, putting an arm around his brother’s shoulders. “Don’t listen to him,” Adam teases. “He just wants an excuse to show off his hockey skills.” He raises an eyebrow, his gaze playful. “How about a game of ‘Who can convince Silvia to dance?’” Smart grins, slapping Adam’s back. “Oh, please. You know I’ll win this one.” “Like hell you will,” Adam retorts, his grin widening. Michael steps forward, finally breaking his silence. “Both of you are wasting time,” he says, his voice calm but firm. “Let’s just ask her.” I blink at them. “You’re all serious about this?” I ask, genuinely surprised. They all look at me, their expressions mixed with curiosity and determination. There’s no teasing, no mockery—just three guys who seem dead-set on getting me to dance. “Of course,” Michael says, his eyes steady on mine. “It’s Christmas. We wouldn’t leave you alone when we could be spending time with you.” Smart nods. “Exactly! Besides, who else would be crazy enough to dance with us?” I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks. I’ve never been one for attention, especially from guys like them. They’re so… so out of my league. Or so I thought. “You’re kidding, right?” I ask, but I can’t keep the skepticism from my voice. “What do you guys want?” Adam grins, stepping closer. “We want to dance, Silvia. That’s all. It’s a party, after all. No one should be standing alone under the mistletoe.” “The mistletoe?” I look up, realizing for the first time that a sprig of mistletoe is hanging right above my head. My stomach tightens. “So, we’re going to stand here and argue about it, or are you going to come dance with us?” Smart asks with a wink. I try to hide the smile that threatens to break free. This is ridiculous. Why are they doing this? What do they expect me to say? But before I can answer, the music switches to something slower, and the room falls into a comfortable rhythm of couples swaying together. I feel a strange pull in my chest, and before I know it, I’m nodding. “Alright, fine,” I say, rolling my eyes. “But no funny business.” They all chuckle, and without missing a beat, Smart steps forward, offering his hand. “Let’s get this over with then.” I hesitate for a moment, my heartbeat quickening. What am I doing? Why am I agreeing to dance with them? But I take his hand, and he leads me to the center of the floor. As we move, the world around me blurs. The noise, the chatter, the laughter—all of it fades into the background as Smart pulls me closer. “So,” he says, leaning down slightly to talk to me, “didn’t know you were such a stickler about these things.” I frown, slightly annoyed. “I’m not. I just don’t get all the fuss over holiday parties. It’s just one big competition, that’s all.” “Well, this is one competition you’re winning,” Smart says, grinning again. I roll my eyes. “Stop being so cheesy.” He laughs softly, his gaze never leaving mine. “Just being honest. You should lighten up a bit, Silvia. It’s Christmas.” I can’t help the smile tugging at my lips. “Yeah, well, you guys are the last people I’d expect to have Christmas cheer.” Michael, who’s standing a few feet away, watches the exchange silently, his arms crossed. For a moment, I think he might say something, but he just stands there, quietly observing. There’s a certain stillness to him, a contrast to Smart’s easy energy. It makes me wonder what’s going through his head. Adam, ever the relaxed one, is leaning against the wall, his eyes twinkling as he watches us. “You two look good together,” he calls, his voice playful but with a hint of something deeper. I glance at him and then at Smart. “This is crazy,” I mutter, but my heart is beating faster, the moment feeling strangely intimate despite the crowd around us. “We’re just having fun,” Smart says, his hand resting on my waist as we sway. “No pressure.” I’m not sure how much I believe that. No pressure? With three guys paying attention to me at once? But there’s something in the air—something electric. The way they’re all so different, yet so intent on getting my attention, is both overwhelming and exhilarating. The song fades, but none of us move. Smart doesn’t let go. He’s still holding me close, his eyes searching mine for a sign. I try to pull away, but my feet feel glued to the floor. “Relax, Silvia,” Smart says softly. “It’s just us. No one else. Just have fun.” His voice is smooth, reassuring, and for some reason, I can’t find the strength to say no. Before I can even gather my thoughts, a slow, deliberate kiss on my cheek comes from above. I freeze, looking up into Smart’s eyes, my heart pounding in my chest. “Well, what do you know,” Smart grins. “Under the mistletoe.”