The Gold Queen (Prequel)

***Sofia***

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March 2002

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“Do you think this dress will make me look fat?” I ask Valentina as I press the red fabric against my body.

“You will look absolutely flawless,” Valentina says, helping me drape the dress over my body so I could see it better. “All the Lunas will be absolutely jealous of you and Mateo won’t be able to keep his hands off of you. You might even end up having triplets instead !” She laughs, my face flushing at her comment.

“Stop it,” I giggle, swaying back and forth in front of the mirror to admire the beautiful dress. “Alright. This is the one,” I decide.

“Perfect, now you just go and get ready. The boys should almost be done setting up.” She checks her watch. “I’m so excited for this baby shower,” she chirps. “Just call me if you need help getting ready,” she calls out as she heads for the door.

I lay the dress out on the bed, my fingers lingering on the silky fabric.

Planning this baby shower had been quite stressful this past week. For starters, only the Alphas and Luna from our Kingdom knew of my pregnancy and only they would be allowed to attend. We could not risk Julian finding out and attacking us in my state. Second, my hormones were at an all time high. I could not stand to be away from my mate for long. He could be leading an Alpha meeting and I would crave him.

Even more terrifying, I was extremely territorial. Any woman who looked at Mateo was at risk of getting their eyes gouged out by me. Mateo found it extremely entertaining to watch me fight back the urge to kill someone for looking at him and would tease me relentlessly.

A*****e.

I undress and turn the shower on, sitting patiently on the shower bench while the water warms up. Mateo insisted I use my bench. He was afraid I’d slip and hurt myself or our pups.

The hot water feels incredible on my skin and I just sit underneath the jets, holding my tummy in my hands to rest for a moment. I loved my big belly, my heart swelling with joy at the thought of holding my pups in my arms soon, but I was exhausted. My pups were getting heavier by the day and I could no longer bend over to touch my own toes!

“You two little ladies need to come out soon,” I laugh as I lather up my sponge and wash my tummy. “I want to shave in peace!”

I glance over at my razor and sigh knowing I could not shave my own kitty anymore.

“Teo?” I mind-link my mate as I finish scrubbing my body. “I need you.”

I hear his footsteps pound down the hall as he storms into our bedroom.

“I’m in here!” I call out, swinging my feet lazily as I wait for him.

He walks into the bathroom and opens the shower door, his face contorted in concern. “What’s wrong baby? Are you hurt?”

I grin at him and point below my waist. “Can you shave my legs and you… know … my other lips?”

It takes him a moment to register what I said before he throws his head back in laughter. “You called me in here to help you shave?”

“Yes,” I huff. “I can’t reach. You put these pups in me so you have to help me.”

He rolls his eyes as he removes his clothes and hops in with me, grumbling to himself. “I didn’t hear any complaints when I was putting them in you,” he mumbles and I resist the urge to smack him.

He takes the shaving cream and coats my right leg in pinkish white foam, delicately moving the razor along my skin. Mateo takes special care to move the blade slowly, making sure he gets every single hair. He peppers k****s on my skin as he rinses off the foam, starting from my ankles and moving up to my thighs. I squirm excitedly as he k****s his way to my inner thigh and I gasp when I feel his fingers stroke my lower lips. He spreads my legs as far apart as I can and coats his fingers in foam before painting my skin with it.

“Do not move,” Mateo instructs, taking the razor and moving it along my slit.

He furrows his brows as he concentrates on his task and I hold back a giggle at how adorable he looks. When he’s all done, he rinses off the foam and hair, gently stroking my slit with his fingers

“You should stop,” I murmur as I feel his fingers slip inside my folds. “Unless you plan to finish what you’ve started.”

He frowns at me. “When have I ever not finished what started?”

I smirk at him as he plunges his tongue inside me, pleasurable tingles rippling down my body to my toes. Mateo throws my legs over his shoulder for better access but I push at his head to stop him.

He looks up at me in confusion and I remove my legs from his shoulders.

“I love your tongue,” I purr, my hands roaming across his chest and teasing his n*****s. I lean in close to his ear and lick his cheek, his body shivering against mine. “But I want you inside me.”

I pepper k****s on his neck and let my hands explore his chest, my thumbs rubbing his little brown peaks. He g****s as I taste his chest with my tongue, nibbling at his wet skin.

“B-but I don’t want to hurt you or the babies,” he pants, desperately trying to hold on to his sanity.

“You won’t hurt me,” I whisper, taking his lips and devouring them. “I promise. I just want to feel you.”

My mate has been so gentle and loving with his tongue ever since we found out I was pregnant and while I’ve enjoyed every second of it, I missed him. I missed having our bodies become one, the connection I felt when we shared an o****m. I missed his sounds, his dominance, him.

“Please baby,” I murmur. “I just want you.”

His lips latch on to mine and he gently lifts me into his arms, one of his hands turning off the shower. He carries me to the bed, both of our bodies dripping wet. Mateo tosses my dress onto the floor and sets me onto the bed, climbing on top of me and spreading my legs with his knees. I bury my fingers in his hair and pull him in for a k**s, my tongue fighting with his for dominance. He rests his stomach on my belly and pulls away.

“Am I squishing you? Are you sure you’re okay? Are the babies okay?” He asks sheepishly, fussing over me and my position. His stammering reminds me of our first night together where he asked if I was okay every two minutes. It was adorable and sweet to have him worry over my pleasure. “Maybe you can ride and I’ll…”

“Teo,” I laugh, cupping his hairy cheeks. “I’m fine. Really. Just f**k me already!”

I pull him in for another k**s, my hands stroking his growing beard. He’s been wanting to grow one for a while now and we figured now was a perfect time before the pups came. I love its roughness against my hands, his hairy lips ticking my face.

Mateo lines up with my entrance and I gasp in euphoria when I feel him drive into me.

“Oh Teo!” I m**n as he pumps slowly and forcefully into me, my toes curling as I feel every inch of him.

He rocks back and forth at a gentle tempo, his lips showering me with k****s along my jaw and collar bones. I dance my fingers along his chest and around his back, feeling every muscle ripple beneath me.

My hands slide down to his a*s cheeks and I press them into me, wanting him to go deeper.

There is no rush for either of us to climax and we take our time to worship the other with k****s and licks. We rock to the beat of each other’s hearts until we become one.

“I love you,” he m***s as I c*m, burying his face in my neck to nibble on my mark.

I return the favor and feel him explode inside me, our bodies exhausted but vibrating together. Mateo rolls over onto his side and pulls me to his chest, his hands resting on my belly.

I just want to stay like this forever, wrapped up in his arms and perfectly content with my two little girls.

“Can we skip the baby shower?” I tease, nuzzling up to his chest. “I would much rather stay here for the rest of my life.”

“It’s just a few hours,” Mateo smiles, kissing my nose. “And then you and I can go again… all night if you like,” he whispers.

We lay in bed for a few moments, neither one of us willing to leave the other’s side when suddenly, my entire world slows down as I feel a small flutter in my belly. At first, I ignore it, choosing instead to focus on my perfect mate’s pounding heart when I feel it again, this time on the opposite side of my belly. My body goes rigid as I realize what the fluttering is and I kick at Mateo, shoving him away from me as I sit up and hold my tummy.

“Oh my goddess,” I scream, Teo jumping to his feet and nearly bursting into tears. “Oh goddess!”

“What!? Did I hurt you?” He asks, his voice trembling with fear.

I shake my head, happy tears springing to my eyes. “No, not at all,” I cry, smiling like a fool at my belly.

“Then what…?”

Unable to explain it, I place his hand on my stomach in the same spot I felt the last flutter and wait. Several seconds go by without a movement, Mateo arching an eyebrow at me.

“Sofia…”

His eyes grow wide as the flutter erupts in my tummy.

His voice shakes as he looks up at me. “I-is that….?”

I nod my head as one of the pups kicks against his hand.

“Oh my goddess,” he whispers in awe, a smile stretching across his lips and his eyes welling up with tears.

“That’s our pups,” I giggle, one of them kicking again to Mateo’s delight.

He gets on his knees and holds my belly in his hands. “Which pup do you think it is?” he laughs, his grey eyes a storm of excitement. “Aurora or Celina?”

“I don’t know,” I laugh, both pups kicking at the same time.

Mateo leans close to my tummy and whispers, “Aurora?” The pup on my right kicks in response and Mateo’s eyes light up like a child at Christmas. “There’s my little girl. My little sun.” He turns to the pup on my left. “So you must be Celina,” he murmurs, kissing the left side of my tummy. “My little moon,” he adds, the pup kicking frantically.

Tears stream down my face as he whispers sweet promises to our little girls.

———

Mateo helps me shimmy into my dress before running off to finish his shower. I do a very light makeup look and have Emiliano escort me down to the fountains where the baby shower is in full swing, the other Luna’s eagerly waiting to congratulate me. Emi hands me off to Valentina and makes a run for the training grounds for a game of soccer with the Alphas and Gammas. I know if there’s beer involved, however, the Alphas will try to spar each other to see who’s the strongest Alpha in the Kingdom.

Mateo arrives and joins us briefly to eat. I sit on his lap and let him rub my belly while I eat, the pups eager and excited to be doted on by their father.

“Teo, promise me you’ll keep the Alpha’s from fighting,” I ask between spoonfuls of frijoles charros (Mexican equivalent of chili). “I don’t need the Lunas getting angry with me about their Alphas coming home beaten and drunk from my baby shower.”

“Relax, babe. It’s only a game of soccer,” he grins mischievously.

I roll my eyes at him knowing full well this was going to be more than just a friendly soccer game. I just hope he can keep the Alphas in check.

We finish our food, Mateo and the other Alpha leaving us ladies to our own devices while they go out for their game.

The women all gather around and present me with gifts of toys, clothes, and accessories for my pups.

Valentina giggles excitedly as she gives me her gift. I pull out slippers, a robe and bottle of wine from the bag and she smirks proudly.

“Everyone always forgets the mother during a baby shower,” she shrugs. “But we’re the ones doing all the work!”

The Lunas all nod in agreement.

“I tell ya, men always want pups but never want to put in the work after the pup comes,” one Luna sighs, several others nodding their heads. “One night I woke up to the baby crying because he needed a diaper change. I get up to change my baby’s diaper but realize I’m all out. I had a few extra in the diaper bag which was sitting on my husband’s side of the bed so I call out to him to hand me one and what does the i***t do? Without looking, he reaches onto the floor and hands me a sock! A sock!” She growls as we burst into laughter. “Oh, I almost strangled him with that stupid sock!”

“Ugh, my husband can’t even smell poop,” another chuckles. “He starts gagging like a five year old being forced to eat Brussels sprouts!”

“Danny is hopeless,” Valentina whines. “I’ve taught him a million times how to put Diego’s diaper on and he’s forgotten a million times!” She exasperates. “But at least he makes the effort to help me, even if he drives me insane with his stupidity.”

“I guess I’m lucky,” Karina shrugs. “Emi is probably better with Chava than I am, but don’t tell him that. It’ll go right to his head.”

I giggle at that. Emiliano was an excellent father. He was so attentive to his little boy’s needs and you could just tell he loved spending every second he could with Chava.

“He wants a little girl now,” Karina smiles to herself. “I think that would be nice. Then Chava could watch over her.”

“That sounds lovely,” I respond, looking down at my belly.

Valentina jumps to her feet, clapping her hands excitedly.

“Okay, enough chit chat. Time for the relay ladies!” Valentina chirps, leading us all to the driveway where three relay lanes are set up.

She instructs the Lunas to get into teams of five and they choose amongst themselves which activity of the relay they want to fulfill.

I laugh hysterically as I watch the first set of Lunas sprint 20 yards to another Luna bent over a chair with a balloon taped to her butt. The running Lunas thrust their h**s desperately against the others butt to pop the balloon.

“Come on comadre!” Valentina screams as a Luna thrusts against her butt. “Harder!”

I’m in tears as her companion frantically humps her from behind until the balloon finally pops.

With the first activity out of the way, Valentina runs another 20 yards to a chair where Karina waits for her. Valentina puts on a blind fold and proceeds to feed Karina baby food.

“You’re shoving it in my nose!” Karina snaps as Valentina forces a spoon into her mouth.

“Shut up and eat!” Valentina growls.

I’m a wheezing buffoon as I watch the two bicker amongst themselves, Valentina smearing most of the food onto Karina’s cheeks. When Karina finishes her food, she sprints 20 yards to a table with plastic babies. She puts on a blind fold and proceeds to dress the baby in a diaper.

“It’s upside down, you i***t!” Valentina snaps, Karina growling back at her.

Once the baby is all dressed, a final Luna takes the baby and sprints to the final station where she dresses the baby in a onesie. As she pulls the zipper up, we hear howls echo in the distance. I look over to see Emiliano’s wolf and a few Gammas racing towards us, all of them covered in b***d.

“Get to the safe houses!” Emiliano screams as he sprints. “We’re under attack!”