The Gold Queen (Prequel)

May 14, 1995

***Mateo***

My heart was pounding in my chest and I take a deep breath to calm down.

“Nervous?” my father chuckles, placing a hand on my shoulder as we stare down the aisle where Sofia would be coming through any minute.

“No,” I lie. “I’ve never been more ready.”

“Let me just fix your hair, mijo,” my mother fusses, licking her finger and reaching for my head.

“Ya ama, my hair is fine!” I protest, brushing her hand away and staring at my reflection in the water fountain. “Go back to your seat!”

“Ok, Ok,” she smiles, a few tears welling up in her eyes.. “You look so handsome, so perfect.”

I lean over and k**s her forehead. “Thank you mama.”

She rushes back to her seat, my father and brother remaining by my side. Butterflies swirl in my belly as I wait anxiously for my Sofia to arrive. I glance around the large garden of the Hacienda at our guests. It would be a small ceremony, only family and friends in attendance. As the Fated pair, we knew a large wedding would only make us easy targets for a possible attack and we needed to be careful. My eyes meet with her Majesty the Queen and no matter how hard I smile, she’s hard to read, her eyes devoid of any emotion. I had hoped she would be more open to the idea of my union to her daughter, but alas, despite 2 months of careful preparation, the Queen was still against our marriage.

It didn’t matter though. The King and the elders had given us their blessing and I had spent the last two months training under the King to take over his duties. I went on all of his business and pack meetings, learning the ropes on how to manage a multi million dollar Hotel franchise. It was a lot of work but luckily, I wouldn’t be doing it alone. Sofia and I would be working together, overseeing both pack and company matters as King and Queen. The King had also made it very clear that while I would be known as Alpha King of the Kingdom of Sol de Oro, the true leader of this great kingdom would be Sofia and I was meant to support and protect her.

I didn’t care about the power. All I wanted, all I needed was my beautiful mate by my side and for us to spend the rest of our lives together.

Suddenly the crowd stands and Valentina walks down the aisle, wearing a pink flowing dress and carrying a basket of flower petals in her hands. She sprinkles the petals, smiling cheerfully as she makes her way down the aisle.

“Good luck,” she whispers as she completes her task and hurries off to the side.

The aroma of coffee beans and almonds fills the air, and I look up to see my beautiful mate gliding towards me, her arm resting on that of her father’s. The world around us fades away as our eyes lock. There is music playing but all I hear is my own heart pounding in my chest, beating only for her. All I could feel was an overwhelming love for the incredible girl looking back at me. She was my air, my heart, my soul, my everything.

Sofia was absolutely breathtaking, wearing a long sleeve gown with beautiful lace and sequins designs decorating her bodice and a long satin train following in her wake. Her beautiful smile ignites a fire in my being and her golden eyes fill with tears of joy.

Something moist rolls down my cheek and Emiliano hands me a handkerchief for me to wipe the tears on my face.

“She’s beautiful, Teo,” he whispers. “I’m so happy for you.”

When she is only a foot away, I reach out for her and she takes my hand, sparks flying as we touch. Her father grabs our hands as he k****s Sofia on the cheek. He looks sternly at me.

“Cuidala. Protejela. Hazla feliz. (Take care of her. Protect her. Make her happy),” he says, holding back tears. “Promise me. “

I place my hand over my heart. “I swear on the Moon, I will take care of Sofia.”

The King accepts my oath and walks off to his glaring wife, soothing her with a small peck on the cheek.

Sofia interlocks our fingers and together we face the elders.

The Greater Elder steps forward, smiling at my wife to be and I. “We have gathered here today in the presence of the Moon and Sun to unite two beings who share a soul…”

I stop listening, too preoccupied with the thought of my mate and I finally coming together. I recall our first encounter that now seemed like a distant memory. The fire in her eyes that day had been the first thing I ever loved about her.

Sofia was a force to be reckoned with, proud of who she was and never afraid of a challenge, even from a ‘moron’ like me.

From then on, without realizing it, I fell in love with every part of her being. I loved her selflessness and her caring heart, how she would willingly sacrifice herself if it meant saving those she loved. I loved how stubborn she could be and how with just one k**s, she would melt right into me. I loved how fierce and determined she could be about her people, always looking ahead for a solution. There was no doubt in my mind, she would be the greatest Queen this kingdom would ever see.

I loved how her eyes wrinkled when she laughed, how she could break down in tears from laughing so hard at my idiocy. I loved how she snored in the mornings, almost like a cat purring in my ear, though she would adamantly deny it. She was not a morning person and it always amazed me how much the girl could sleep. I loved her dominance in bed, how she knew what she wanted and wouldn’t shy away from my curiosity. I loved how she craved my touch, how she wriggled her way into my lap at any given opportunity or kissed me whenever she felt like it, without shame or a care about anyone watching. But most of all, I loved being loved by her.

The Elder wraps the large rosary around us called a lazo, a symbol of two souls being tied together for all eternity. He places it first on my shoulder and makes his way around Sofia so that the lazo forms an infinity sign tied around our bodies.

“Que la unión de este Rosario sea una inspiración para ambos y un símbolo de su amor eterno. Recuerden que la preservación de su nueva familia solo se obtiene con amor y sacrificio mutuo. {May the union of this rosary be an inspiration for both of you and a symbol of your eternal love. Remember that the preservation of your new family can only be obtained through mutual love and respect},” the elder says.

Emiliano hands me the ring and I slip it on her finger, sealing my love with a promise.

“From the moment I met you, you’ve been the biggest pain in the a*s.” The small audience laughs while Sofia blushes. “But I’m forever grateful you bumped into me that day on the beach.” She sticks her tongue out at me and I can’t help but laugh. “With this ring,” I say, growing serious once more. “I give you myself… and I promise to be the man you deserve and the man you need in times of hardship and prosperity. No matter the circumstances, I will always be by your side. From this day forward, I am not only your mate, but your friend, your companion, your ally and I promise to love you always, Sofia. Always. “

Tears fill her eyes and I quickly wipe them all away.

Her voice quivers as she slips a ring on my finger. “You have annoyed me from the moment I met you, ” she chuckles through tears. “But you are the only person I want to be annoyed by.” A few drops roll down her cheek. “With this ring, I give you myself and I promise to never let you go. You are my love and my happiness and I will work hard to be the same for you. I promise to be your friend, your confidant, your mate for always and forever. I love you Mateo. I always will.”

My heart swells with pride as I bear the ring with her promise.

“By the power vested in me by both the Moon and Sun, I now pronounce this man and this woman as one soul, one entity, as Moon Goddess designed them to be. Mr. Altamirano, you may now k**s your wife.

I don’t need to be told twice.

My hands were on her cheeks, guiding her towards my lips for a k**s delivered with pure love. The crowd cheers as I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her to me, needing her body against mine.

The next few hours are a blur I don’t really care to remember. There was dinner, some dancing and plenty of booze to go around. As guests enjoy the celebration into the evening , however, Sofia and I sneak off into the jungle for some alone time. Fully shifted in our wolves, we race to the cliffs overlooking El Nacimiento. The Moonlight glistens over the blue waters of the Mante River as we jump in, our wolves eager to be with each other. Solana has the most amazing red eyes I’d ever seen, two rubies glittering against the golden frame of her face and I feel Luis get lost in them.

Sofia and I sit back and allow our wolves to enjoy each other’s company. They play in the water and chase each other’s tails to their heart’s content for what seems like an eternity. At one point, the two wolves slip into the woods and mate…. Solana and Luis howling in pleasure as they explore each other.

Exhausted by the sheer ferocity of their activities, they give us back control and we make our way to the cave where we shared our first k**s.

I lift Sofia onto a rocky ledge for her to sit comfortably on the edge. Goosebumps rise across her body as the cool air of the cave nips at her skin and she begins to shiver.

Still in the water, I wedge myself between her legs and lift myself up slightly so our faces were at the same level. Sofia cups my cheeks, pulling me up against her body to take my warmth as we k**s. Our lips move in unison, like they were meant to be together, perfectly molded to the shape of the other. My tongue slips between her lips, colliding with hers in a erotic dance. I pull away, needing air in my lungs and trail little k****s down her jaw as she m***s.

“Mark me,” she murmurs, tilting her head to the side to give me access. “Claim me as yours.”

I brush her hair away from her neck, feathering more k****s on her delicate skin. She shivers against me, my canines grazing her bare flesh. My c**k hardens when the delicious smell of her arousal fills the cave air and I want nothing more than to bury myself in her folds until she’s satisfied.

“Please,” she m***s. “Please, make me yours!”

She cries out as my canines pierce the skin where her neck meets her shoulder, her back arching against me while she m***s in ecstasy. I seal my mark with my tongue, but her arousal only grows stronger. Unable to resist her any longer, I pull her off the rock and press her up against the cave wall. She giggles with excitement as I find a small ledge beneath the water for me to stand on. Sofia then wraps her legs around my waist and m***s into my mouth as I impale her with my shaft.

“Ah! Ah! Teo!” she m***s, rocking her h**s to my rhythm.

As I’m about to climax, I feel a sharp pain on my own neck, my breath hitching as the sensation morphs into unbelievable pleasure.

“f**k, baby,” I hiss, emptying my seed inside her.

I lean my forehead against hers, our ragged breaths mixing. She was mine and I was hers.

———

March 1997 SOMEWHERE IN THE CANADIAN ARCTIC

***Unknown POV***

I feel like a child on the verge of exploding with joy from so much excitement as I watch the sea witch remove the chest from the Arctic waters with a flick of her wrists and chant.

We had searched far and wide for the Insanity scroll; we would need them to find a treasure more powerful than the Ivory Twins and the Fated Pair. A treasure so vile, it would ensure our victory in our quest to end the Gold and Silver Wolf race. And now, after months of searching, we were finally going to be one step closer to our goal.

Our crusade now brought us to the cold and barren arctic sea to search for the S.S. Terror; debris of the lost Franklin Expedition. It was said one of the sailors was a werewolf who was seeking to hide the scrolls in the Arctic waters. Luckily for us, we knew a witch who could help us retrieve it.

Sybil, the sea witch, attempts to open the chest, but it doesn’t budge, much to her surprise.

My sister and I exchange glances. We knew exactly how to open the chest.

Sybil growls in frustration while my dear sister kneels down beside her, placing a hand on her back.

“It’s alright, Sybil,” my sister coos. “We know the combination.”

“You do?” Sybil says with surprise. “Well what is it?”

My sister gives her a sinister smile, a cold shiver running down my own spine.

“Why that’s easy,” she chirps. “You are the key.”

Sybil’s face scrunches in confusion but before she can react, sister pulls out a bronze dagger from her sleeve and plunges it in Sybil’s chest.

A small wheeze escapes her pretty lips as she stares at the dagger buried inside her. Her eyes gloss over as she looks up at my sister, a few drops of b***d spilling from her nostrils.

My sister pulls the dagger out, chanting our wicked words to draw out the soul of the witch. The white stream of Sybil’s spirit pours out of her body, Sybil screaming in panic as she watches her life drain out of her.

My sister’s fingers dance in the air, guiding Sybil’s soul to the lock on the chest. When Sybil’s lifeless body finally collapses on the ice, the lock pops open.

I reach over and remove the lid, revealing a scroll still perfectly intact despite spending over 100 years in the bottom of the ocean. With a gentle touch, I slowly unravel the scroll, my sister peering over my shoulder. We stare at the map, a Latin inscription on the side:

In the crest of the Earth

Lies the blade with no soul.