The Price For An Alpha's Love

CHAPTER TWO (A Crazy Nightmare)

“My head — what the hell happened last night? What did Ava do to my clothes now?” Kenzie muttered, struggling to sit up on the bed. She finally lifted her eyes, catching sight of the unfamiliar environment.

“Wait — where the heck am I?” she whispered, looking over her half-naked body. She clutched the edge of the bed hard when she turned to her side to see a man sleeping next to her. He was also half-naked too.

“What did I just do?! I’m such a mess. How could I — oh my goodness,” she exclaimed, standing up from the bed. She rushed over to the end of the bed and snatched up her dress, racing out of the room. Nikolai, whose eyes were tightly shut, fluttered open, his face painted with a devilish grin.

McKenzie alighted from the cab with heavy thoughts weighing her down. She scratched her head, trying to recall what had happened the previous night.

“I was with the guy. I barely know his name, but he said I was cute, sexy and pretty. Then he held my hand. Yes, I think I’m getting it,” her face drew a hopeful smile while she continued her monologue. She kept her index finger on her lips, still endeavoring to picture what had transpired between her and the strange man.

“If I recall correctly, he warded off some guys, saying I was his girlfriend. It’s all coming back now. Then Ava called. Then I cut the call. Then I fell on him and he held me. Then I found myself in that room. Then I woke up this morning — my goodness!!!! What have you done, Kenzie?!!!” she screamed, stomping her foot. “I’m such an i***t. What if I get pregnant? What if he has STDs? Did he even use protection? I’m so doomed!”

“You! Come in here,” Ava ordered with a straight face, and she followed, holding her hands out to apologize as she stepped into the apartment.

“I’m not going to ask you why you pulled that silly stunt yesterday. You got humiliated in front of your long-time crush, got wasted at a bar and yelled at your friend for caring too much about you. It’s fine. I simply want you to know that I care about your well-being, not because I’m two years older, and I want to act like a big sister, but because I love you. You don’t have to yell at me and act like a bad b***h,” Ava said in a hurry, then turned to leave.

“Wait, please. I’m sorry. I can’t believe I yelled at you for looking out for me. I only wanted to know what it was like to — kind of — have fun, you know. Just let loose,” Kenzie said, playing with her fingers.

“You could do that in a more secure way, with me and Jake around to watch you. You can’t go drinking in yourself in a stupor like that unless you want to get into trouble,” Ava said, folding her arms on her chest.

“I’m sorry, alright. Please, tell me you’ve forgiven me,” Kenzie asked with pleading eyes.

“Fine! Can I ever stay mad at you at all?” Ava laughed, embracing her. “Now, how was last night? Hope you had the fun you wanted, and where did you sleep? I couldn’t close my eyes all night, thinking you might have gotten into trouble,” Ava pushed back, then moved closer to the bedroom to wear her nurse uniform.

“I did get into trouble,” Kenzie replied, flickering her eyes here and there to veil her embarrassment. “I had a one-night stand with a stranger and I don’t even know his name.”

“You did what?! Kenzie!!! Wow! I have no comments at all. Where did my nerdy, introverted friend go?” Ava giggled.

“I don’t know. She probably slipped out of my body last night because I don’t understand how I could ever sleep with a man I do not know,” Kenzie said, placing her hand on the armchair, to fit gently into the sofa.

“What was he like? Tall, slim, bearded?” Ava raced to her side and knelt beside the sofa.

“Is this story time or what? You’re crazy,” Kenzie shook with laughter.

“Just spill it,” Ava was starting to grow impatient.

“Well, he’s tall, well-built. Gosh! His arms were so strong, and I felt I could sleep in his chest forever. He had that long scented black hair that was neatly on his back. Honestly, he’s charming, but that doesn’t save my behavior,” Kenzie said, standing from the sofa. She surveyed the room then noticed Ava’s uniform.

“Where’s my head? I’ve got the morning shift today!” Kenzie screamed, rushing into the bedroom.

“Which is why I’ll be serving during your shift so that you can have mine. You need enough rest from everything you’ve been through,” Ava replied, standing by the doorway to the room.

Kenzie’s lips shaped beautifully, lighting up her face. “Thanks Ava. What would I do without you?”

“Absolutely nothing, my dear,” Ava replied, grabbing her bag and turning from the room. Kenzie held the bedsheet to lay it once more when Ava turned back on her heels. “And try as much as possible to forget Kelvin. He’s not worth it. I didn’t want to say this, but I’ll have to. He’s slept with literally every single nurse in the hospital and even had his escapades with patients. Spoiler alert? He has a girlfriend too.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? Little wonder I saw him getting intimate with that nurse at the children’s ward. He even had a thing with the head nurse. I didn’t read much about it because I had growing feelings for him,” Kenzie admitted, biting her fingers.

“You don’t have to be disappointed. He’s a jerk and it’s not your fault. Clear your head and get enough rest, so you can storm the hospital and show them who’s the boss. I won’t be coming home tonight. Jake just got promoted at the office, so we’ll be having a date, and I’ll stay over at his place,” Ava explained.

“Good for you. Congrats to him. Let him know he owes me a date too,” Kenzie replied, wrapping her arms around Ava. After she had left, Kenzie slumped on the bed and got swept up in dreamland.

“It’s now your time. I have to take you home. You’re mine now. It’s the full moon. Accept your fate. You’re a werewolf now.”

Kenzie could hear the overlapping male and female voices play in her head and she screamed in horror, pulling herself out of her nightmare.

“What the heck was that?! What are those fangs and claws I just saw? A werewolf? Am I hallucinating?” Kenzie’s heart raced as she touched her body, feeling the drops of sweat sweep through her face, back and chest. She grabbed her phone instantly and typed in the keyword, werewolves. She placed her hand over her mouth, panting aggressively.

“Did I just dream about a werewolf transformation? Why was I transforming?” she mumbled, dropping her phone absent-mindedly.