The Gold Queen (Prequel)
The Gold Queen – Chapter 41

Feb 29, 2000; Leap Day

***Sofia***

“You like that, baby?” Mateo grunts, his hand palming my a*s. “You like how I f**k you?”

A small whimper escapes my lips as I take in his shaft from behind. Much to my delight, I earn a spank when I don’t respond, my own carnal desires taking over.

“Y-yes… oh Goddess, yes!” I scream.

I arch my back, the need building up in my core as Mateo thrusts into me until I can hold back no longer. My fingers nails dig into the edge of the desk, my chest tightening as the o****m surges through my body. My head pulsates with waves of euphoria as he spanks my a*s between his pumps.

“Teo!” I m**n, burying my face in the sheets of paper sprawled across my desk, my legs going limp from exhaustion.

Mateo pulls me up by my hair as he continues to impale me with his glorious rod, moving in and out with fervor and need. His hot breath nips at my ear, his fingers wrapping around my throat as he squeezes at the sides.

“Are you willing to listen now?” he whispers, biting my shoulder. “Or must I punish you again?”

As much as I would love to go another round, we had some business to take care of. Prior to being bent over my desk and f****d in my office, Mateo and I had been arguing, as we had many times before, over the Royal Army and my duty to lead it in battle. Both Mateo and Emiliano felt I should stay within the safety of the Hacienda or the hotel properties, not risking my life on the battlefields. But as Queen, I had prepared my whole life to fight alongside my troops.

A leader could not lead from the safety of a building and I was no damsel in distress. I knew my way around the battlegrounds.

But no matter how much we argued, Mateo and I could simply not come to an agreement. I once went off to a battle field without Mateo and Emiliano, both of them refusing to speak to me for a week after. I tried to remain strong during that week of silence, but I ultimately gave in and never returned to the battle ground.

I lose my train of thought as Mateo’s hand slides under my under arms and pulls down my shirt, exposing my breasts. He cups my boob, rolling and pinching my n*****s and drawing a ragged m**n from my lips. The bastard knew exactly what he was doing and I was not having it.

Jamming my elbow into his gut, I get him to release me and scramble out his way, adjusting my blouse and pencil skirt back into place. He removes his condom and tucks his c**k into his pants. He doesn’t say a word as he goes off to the bathroom to discard the condom and returns with a washcloth for me.

I tidy myself up, the entire time glaring at my mate who smiled back innocently. I loved this man but he could drive me insane sometimes.

“I am Queen, Mateo,” I sigh, rubbing my temples as I feel a headache coming on. “And as the reigning Monarch of Sol de Oro, I do not need to ask for permission to lead my troops in battle.”

“Exactly,” Mateo replies. “You are the one true monarch of this kingdom. The ONLY heir to the Throne. We don’t have pups, Sofia. If something happens to you, Sol de Oro falls. There is no one else left to lead.”

I hated that he always brought up our lack of heirs. Since replaceing out about the Ivory Twins and the potential danger of them arriving, I’ve taken every precaution to ensure pregnancy was not a possibility any time soon. Even as we f****d each other here in my Office, Mateo had worn a condom, his silky seed now swimming in the trash bin.

I knew it crushed him that I did not desire children. Our 5 year anniversary was coming up in May and still my belly never swelled with life. When Emi announced Karina’s pregnancy, I could sense Mateo’s jealousy. His own younger brother, who had found love but a few months ago, was soon going to be a father.

He wanted pups. Every werewolf wanted pups of their own, a family… but not me. I wanted to rule. Motherhood was never really a desire of mine. It frightened me, especially now that I knew who we were and what kind of pups we would produce. I didn’t want any part in that.

“So that’s it then, isn’t it? That’s what you’re really angry about,” I scoff at him, crossing my arms over my chest. “You’re not worried I’ll get hurt in battle. You’re angry that you haven’t impregnated me!”

“That’s not true!” he snaps defensively. “I want a family, I do. But that’s not the point! The point is-“

“The point is you want pups and I don’t,” I shrug, my eyes burning with tears as I see his dream shatter in his eyes.

“Sofia… y-you don’t mean that…” he whispers, shaking his head in disbelief as he forces a smile, taking a step towards me.

“Teo, I-I…” I warn, wiping my tears and stepping away from him. “I-I’m sorry… But we-we’re just not ready to be parents. There is too much evil out there. I-it’s simply not the right time.”

“There will never be a right time, Sofia!” He snaps, slamming his fist on my desk, the sound making me jump.

He pants in frustration, clenching his fist and refusing to look at me.

“You’re letting your mother put fear in your heart…” He sighs, his shoulders straightening out. “But we are strong Sofi. We are so strong and I know we can fight whatever obstacles step in our path.”

“No,” I whimper, shaking my head as tears blur my vision. “No…. No..”

I feel his hands cup my cheeks as he leans his head on mine. “Yes, Sofi. Yes we can do this. We can-“

“I don’t want pups, Teo!” I snap, pushing his arm away.

He stares back at me in silence, completely stunned. I wipe my face as I roll back my shoulders and compose my thoughts.

“I don’t want pups,” I repeat, trying hard to keep my l*p from trembling. “My duty to my people comes first. And as you said, I am the true Monarch of this Kingdom. I don’t need your permission to fight with my troops and I certainly don’t need your approval on the decisions I make over my body.”

He clenches his jaws, a storm clouding his grey eyes.

“I see…” he says through gritted teeth, clearing his throat and adjusting his tie. “I thought this was OUR kingdom, that I was your King. I guess I was wrong to assume that we were equals in this partnership and that I had any say in our relationship. I apologize for overstepping my boundaries, your Majesty.”

My heart falls to the pit of my stomach as he walks past me.

“No, Teo! Teo wait!” I call out, reaching for his arm. “Teo, please. Don’t walk away from me!”

“I have nothing left to say, your Grace,” He says, pulling his arm out of my grip. “You’ve already made up your mind. You don’t need me anymore.”

Before I can say anything else, he rushes out of the room, slamming the door shut with such force, a framed photograph of us crashes onto the floor, splintering into pieces.

I collapse onto my knees, completely heartbroken by his reaction. I knew he wanted pups… but I could not shake the fear of the chaos that would ensue should I give birth to the Ivory Twins. I was just so afraid. So afraid of losing everything I loved.

The sounds of the world around me begin to die down, drowned out by the beating of my heart. My breaths come in slow and ragged and no matter how hard I try, I simply could not suck in enough air. The four walls of the room feel like they are closing in on me, slowly suffocating me into oblivion. I wanted to scream, to cry out for help, but my voice was caught in my throat, slowly choking me into silence.

I feel the vibrations of footsteps come racing towards me and I look up to see Emi towering over me. His mouth moves as if he’s saying something, but I hear no words leave his lips. He cups my cheeks and I feel a jolt of energy enter my body.

“Breathe, Sofia. Just breathe,” he murmurs, his soothing voice calming my racing heart.

I do as he instructs, sucking in gulps of air until I feel myself again.

“Get her some water!” he orders a guard standing in the doorway.

The guard rushes off to complete his task, Emi lifting me up in his arms and carrying me to the couch.

“Are you okay, your Majesty?” he asks when my breathing returns to normal.

I nod, resting my head on his chest and closing my eyes.

“Teo and I got into a fight…” I shrug, forcing back my tears so he wouldn’t see.

“Should I beat him up?” He asks, brushing my hair with his fingers.

“No,” I laugh. “Just tell him he’s sleeping on the couch tonight.”

He forces a laugh, and I pull myself out of his arms to look at him.

“Everything alright with you?” I ask.

He gives me a sheepish smile. “Kari and I got into an argument this morning… We haven’t spoken since. I don’t like when she’s angry with me. I miss her too much.”

I scoot over and pat the seat next to me for him. He settles onto the couch and I lay my head in his lap.

“She wants to go visit her father…” he sighs, playing with my hair. “I don’t want her dad anywhere near us or our baby, but no matter what I say, she refuses to listen… I just don’t understand why she still needs him in her life. Am I not enough for her? Have I not shown her more love these past three months than her father ever did her entire life?”

I could hear the tremor in his voice and it breaks my heart. He loved Karina so much. I take his hand in mine and squeeze it.

“She’s a special girl,” I murmur. “She just needs time to heal the wounds her father gave her. Be patient, Emi. She’ll soon realize all she needs is you.”

Before he can respond, an omega enters the room , a silver tray in her hand.

“Your Majesty,” she bows sheepishly, her shaking hands pouring out a glass of water from the pitcher on the tray. “I-I’ve brought your water.”

I didn’t recognize her as one of the regular omegas who attended me.

Figuring she must be new, I take the glass from her hand, offering her a warm smile. “Thank you…?” My voice trails off for her to fill in the blank.

She giggles nervously, taking her skirt and curtseying for me. “Ira.”

“That’s a beautiful name,” I smile, taking a sip from my glass. “Thank you, Ira,”

She blushes before scurrying off with her tray. I take a few more sips, allowing the coolness of the water to refresh me.

“Are all the omegas that nervous around you?” Emi laughs.

“Only the-“

I don’t finish my sentence before I feel a tickle in my throat. Thinking it’s nothing, I sit up and pat my chest, hoping to make it go away. The tickle very quickly morphs into a burning sensation traveling down my throat and I start to panic. Reaching for the glass of water to soothe the pain, my airway feels as though someone was squeezing it shut.

“Your majesty?” Emi asks, patting my back with his palm.

The burning pain spreads to my lungs and I cover my mouth with my elbow to cough. Emi is on his knees, coaxing me to relax as I continue to cough into my sleeve. When I pull my arm back, I’m horrified to replace the fabric soaked in my b***d.

***Karina***

I’ve been staring at my car keys for two hours now, unable to decide what to do. Emi refused to understand why I needed to see my father.

I didn’t want to see him because I wanted him to know I was pregnant. I didn’t even want to be near him after what he did but I had too. I had to close this chapter in my life. I needed to say goodbye to the man who had tormented me for years. I needed to be free of him for good. I need to let him know that I was happy despite what he did. That he had failed to break me.

Having made up my mind, I slowly get up from the couch, clutching my belly as I stand. I’ve been pregnant only 8 weeks but my tummy was already the size of a pumpkin. As I turn towards the hallway, I hear a pair of footsteps come up behind me.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I hear a voice call out.

I roll my eyes. Valentina.

“None of your business,” I snap, continuing on my path when her stupid voice calls out again.

“You are my brother’s wife and in your belly, you carry my nephew,” She snaps. “It is my business. If something happens to you on my watch, Emi will never forgive me.”

“You know that’s not true,” I snort. “He’s incapable of holding grudges.”

She frowns at me, completely ignoring my commentary. “Where are you going?”

I want nothing more than to slap her silly for sticking her nose in my business but I could see no harm in telling her. I could take her out if I wanted to, pregnant or not.

“I’m going to see my father,” I smile. “Happy now?”

I turn on my heel when I feel her hand wrap around my wrist.

“Then I’m coming with you,” she shrugs. “Just to be safe.”

I pry her fingers off, completely bewildered she would even think it was okay to touch me. “I can take care of myself,” I sneer.

“I’m sure you can,” she smiles innocently at me. “But I wasn’t asking.”

She raises her hand to my face, revealing the car keys she had somehow managed to swipe from me without me noticing. She turns on her heel and heads to the door.

“Let’s go!” She calls out.

—

It was a long and uncomfortable car ride to the hospital, sweet relief taking over as we pulled up to the main entrance. After checking in, we’re escorted to the top floor where all the mental patients were being held. A nurse takes me out to the garden and tells me to wait while she gets my father. I settle down on a bench, suddenly very nervous about what I had to say.

Just stay calm, I tell myself as the doors to the garden open.

I want to burst into laughter when I see the Great General Cortez wheeled in by a nurse. His once terrifying cold eyes are completely devoid of all emotion and thought, now just two empty black pits of despair.

“If he gets too aggravated,” the nurse says, handing me a small remote. “Just push this button here and I’ll take him back to his room,” she instructs, pointing at a red button.

“Thank you nurse…..?”

“Oh, sorry,” she mutters a response. “Tais,” She smiles, pointing to her name tag. “Nurse Tais.”

“Thank you, Tais.”

She leaves me with my father as I think over my words carefully. I had loved his man, admired him despite his cruelty for years, thinking somehow I could make him proud. But now staring at his empty shell, I realized he was nothing but a pathetic coward. The monster hiding in my closet I had now outgrown. It didn’t matter what I said. He wasn’t there anymore.

“Hola papa,” I sigh, rubbing my belly as I feel my son kick.

I let the beautiful fluttering of his life soothe me.

“You know the entire drive over, I was planning out this elaborate speech I would give you about moving on and replaceing love,” I blurt out, letting my emotions take the wheel. “But now that I see you… I realize you don’t even exist anymore.” I almost burst into laughter as the realization hit me. “You are nothing, General. You can’t hurt me anymore.” I feel so strong as I stare at the old withered man in front of me. “I found love, General. I found my happiness.” I fight back my tears, determined to see this moment through. “You lose, dad. I don’t need your approval anymore.”

I get up from my bench and place a hand on his shoulder as I lean down to his ear.

“I’m free.”

I roll back my shoulders, prepared to leave this all behind when I feel his hand take mine.

“Karina…” he murmurs.

Despite his mental state, he was as strong as ever as he pulls me back down, pressing his lips to my ear.

“There is a demon growing inside you, Karina,” he hisses.

Before I could react, I feel a sharp pain in my stomach. A b***d curdling scream escapes my lips as I look down to see a scalpel sticking out of my tummy.