The Gold Queen (Prequel)

***Sofia***

Solana whines and whimpers as Mateo and the Hacienda become a little dot in the distance.

When we reach the edge of the hacienda, the guards which had protected us, turn around and join the battle, leaving us to fend for ourselves in the human world.

It’s going to be okay, I try comforting Solana, placing my hand on my stomach as I feel my pups shifting inside me. He said he’ll meet us soon.

I feel a sudden tightness in my back slowly undulate towards my front side and I g***n softly, biting my lower l*p to release some tension.

“You okay back there?” Danny asks as I inhale slowly.

“Yeah,” I exhale, staring out the window. “The pups are just moving a lot,” I g***n.

“Why don’t you try going to sleep?” Emiliano offers, scooting over and patting his lap for me to lay my head on. “We have about 5 hours to go before we reach our destination in Nuevo Leon.”

“I can’t sleep,” I sigh, knowing Solana’s whimpering and the moving pups would make this the longest five hours of my life. “There’s too much on my mind.”

“Let me help,” Emi says, reaching for my hand but Solana’s snarl makes me flinch back from his touch.

No! she growls angrily. We need to go back! Something doesn’t feel right.

“Sorry,” I mutter to Emi. “Solana is just really antsy right now. I can’t get her to calm down.”

Emi takes both of my hands and looks at me. “Teo will be fine,” he says quietly, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and pulling me close to his side so that my head can rest comfortably on his shoulder. “Just go to sleep. It’ll all be over before you know it.”

I focus on my breathing but as the minutes drag on, Solana’s pacing begins to drive me mad.

We should go back, she whines. We can’t leave him. We can’t leave!

An uneasy feeling settles in the pit of my stomach and I cradle my belly for comfort. Tears spring to my eyes when Solana begins to cry and Emi holds me tighter.

“It’s okay, Sofi,” he soothes. “Just hang on.”

We have to go back! Solana suddenly shrieks. Don’t leave him, Sofi, please! We have to got back. We have to go! We have to go!

Her screams become unbearable and I begin to sob into Emi’s shoulder.

“We have to go back…” I whisper, Solana shrieking like a banshee as her uneasiness grows stronger. “We can’t leave Teo behind. I need him.”

“Sofia, we can’t turn back… “

“No! We have to go back,” I pant, every cell in my body screaming at me that something is wrong. “We have to go… we have to go back… We have to go back right now!” I snap, shaking Emi by the shoulders so he understands the gravity of the situation. “Take me back to him… Take me back. I can’t breathe without him. I can’t breathe. We have to go back!”

Emi cups my cheeks. “Sofia calm down… You need to calm down.”

Why isn’t he listening?

“No! No! No! TAKE ME BACK NOW!” I demand with my Royal voice, Danny pulling over to obey the command. “We can’t leave-“

My breath hitches as a sudden surge of pain spreads across my chest, my entire body going stiff in Emi’s arms. For a few seconds, I struggle to breathe, my mouth hanging wide open as a few tears roll down my cheeks.

“Sofia, breathe,” Emi snaps, shaking me a little, but his words begin to fade into the background as the entire world slows down.

My eyes wander across the car, every person turning to look at me in slow motion. Just as suddenly as the world goes still, it speeds up again, all of my emotions racing back towards me and escaping out of my mouth in a scream.

“MATEO!”

Every ounce of strength leaves my body with my wail, my voice morphing into Solana’s b***d curdling howl as my chest slowly burns with emptiness.

“MATEO!”

Chava and Diego begin to cry as I desperately try to fill my lungs with air and Emi once again cups my cheeks in an attempt to soothe me. I thrash my arms against him, desperately needing space to breathe as another sobs rolls down my throat.

My hands search for the door handle and I push it open, stumbling out onto the side of the road and collapsing onto my knees as I feel my mate slip away.

“No, Mateo!!” I scream into our mind-link, hoping somehow he’ll hear me. “Come back to me! You promised you’d come back to me! What about our babies?” I wail. “You promised we were in this together. You promised!”

My world which had once been filled with so much joy and laughter suddenly falls silent to me, Solana’s screams the only sound I hear. The fire in my chest goes out, leaving me with nothing but the pain of what I had lost.

He’s gone…Solana cries. I can’t feel him… I can’t feel him!

Pressure builds up on my back again, rippling across my stomach down to my groin and I cry out in pain. A little burst of liquid explodes between my legs, tricking down the side of my thighs and pooling around my knees. I stare at the liquid seeping into the pavement, unable to comprehend what was happening.

I’m suddenly lifted off the ground and find Emiliano screaming something at me, his voice drowned out by the sound of Solana’s wails.

I can’t do this…

Emi sets me back into the car, barking at Danny to start the car and get us moving again. He then cups my cheeks, his eyes filling with tears.

“Qué paso? {What happened?},” he asks, his voice shaking slightly.

Unable to answer, I let out another scream of sorrow, feeling the emptiness squeeze at my heart and crush it.

“Is he gone?” he whispers, his voice so small, I almost don’t hear it..

I can hardly speak, my mouth hanging open but no words coming out. A small sob escapes my lips and Emi shakes his head in disbelief.

“No…” he whimpers, his shoulders trembling with grief. “Not Teo…”

Valentina bursts into tears, her hand covering her mouth as she sobs so that only her muffled cries can be heard. Danny hides his face in his arms and I see his body shiver with every sob. Karina, who was used to death and violence from a young age, grows quiet, letting the information process.

I feel another contraction ripple across my uterus and I hold onto my belly, unable to soothe myself in my state. Emi stops his grieving and cups my cheeks again, zapping me with his energy until the pain goes numb.

“You’re going to be okay,” he whispers as he strokes my hair and wipes my tears. “We’re going to get through this together. I’m still here. You still have me.”

But he is not my Teo… and I could not do this without him.

“I can’t…” I cry, shaking my head. “I can’t do this…”

Emi leans his forehead against mine. “Yes you can,” he murmurs, rubbing my belly. “Because your pups need you to.”

I hiccup as I let his words sink in, taking his hand and squeezing it for comfort.

“She needs to get somewhere for the births,” Karina says quietly. “We should get moving now. The King bought us some time. Let’s not let it go to waste.”

Danny wipes his tears and starts the car again, driving back onto the freeway. Valentina moves to the seat beside me to check how far I’m dilated as the contractions get closer and closer together while Emi numbs the pain. We drive for what seems like an eternity, my sobs growing quiet with exhaustion.

The memory of Mateo and the sunrise comes flooding back and I squeeze Emi’s hand.

“Sofia, what do you feel right now?”

“Empty,” I murmur.

“We need a place now,” Valentina snaps. “She’s 8 centimeters dilated!”

Danny turns off the freeway down an old road. From what I could tell, however, we were traveling in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but trees and empty fields.

“Keep your eyes peeled for a house,” Danny calls out, slowing down as the pavement morphs into an old dirt path.

It’s a few minutes to midnight and the darkness makes it hard to see anything even with our night vision. The car shakes violently as Danny swerves to avoid potholes and large rocks lodged in the middle of the road and I g***n in discomfort, unable to find a comfortable position to sit in. Another contraction makes me burst into tears and scream, Emi cradling my head to numb my pain with his gift.

“It’s okay, Sofi,” he whispers. “We’ll find a place.”

Just then, Moon Goddess answers his prayer, Valentina shrieking with excitement as a farmhouse comes into view.

“Danny look!” she cries, pointing to the left of the car. “Pull over. There might be a house nearby and people who can help us.”

Danny pulls into the driveway, driving very cautiously. A little further down, we see a small house made of bricks and sticks, the roof made of sheets of metal. As the car approaches the house, a man with a shotgun appears at the door, a woman in an old robe holding a candle hiding behind him. Danny stops the car and hops out, holding his hands up in surrender.

“Please. Don’t shoot. We just need help.”

The man doesn’t budge, pointing his gun at Danny

“We don’t have anything!” the man snaps. “You best be on your way.”

Seeing that they were not budging, Emi lifts me into his arms and carries me out of the car.

“Please,” he pleads, holding me up for them to see. “She’s pregnant. Her water broke and there’s no one else who can help us. We just need a place for her to give birth. We could take the barn so we don’t bother you and we’ll leave first thing in the morning,” he explains, cradling my head as I g***n from a contraction. “Please!”

The woman pushes past her husband and rushes towards us, placing her hand on my forehead.

“Let’s get her inside,” the woman offers, waving at her husband to put the gun away.

Emi thanks her, carrying me into the hut. It is small but clean, the floor made of patted down dirt. On the far side of the house, there is a small kitchen and on the other is a large mattress with two small children huddled close together, staring at us in fear. The woman, who introduces herself as Itzel, brings out a blanket and lays it on the floor for me. Emi gently lowers me onto it and sits behind me so I can lean against his chest. Itzel instructs her husband to draw water from a nearby well and orders the children to gather supplies.

Karina and Valentina bring in the boys, both of whom are exhausted and hungry.

“You can let them rest on the bed and we’ll get them something to eat,” Itzel says. She calls one of her children and has them fix a bowl of beans for the boys to eat.

Karina helps feed the boys while Valentina joins me on the floor to check my dilation.

“You’re almost there,” Valentina says, wiping the sweat off my forehead with a towel. “Just a little more.”

I scream as another contraction undulates across my pelvis, Emi attempting to soothe me with gentle whispers. Itzel’s husband, Ramon, returns with a bucket of water and sets it on the propane stove to boil.

Suddenly, a trickle of b***d flows between my legs and I feel the sudden urge to push. Anchoring myself on the floor, I spread my legs apart, bringing my knees close to my chest and breathing in slowly.

“Ahhhh!” I cry, throwing my head back on Emi’s shoulder as I push.

Emi squeezes my hand and k****s my fingers. “You’re doing so good, Sofi. Just keep breathing.”

“No, I can’t!” I pant, digging my heels into the dirt floor as the pain becomes unbearable. “I can’t do this,” I sob, wanting to give up.

“Yes you can,” He whispers. “Mateo died to protect you and his babies. Don’t dishonor his sacrifice by giving up. I know it hurts,” he says, smoothing back my hair. “And I know I’m not him,” he adds, his voice shaking. “But I’m here. I’m right here with you. And I promise you… I will not leave your side. I-I promise,” he says, squeezing my hand.

I throw my head and scream, angry with Moon Goddess for taking Teo from me and even angrier at Teo for breaking his promise.

A cool puff of air blows down my arm, my skin tingling its wake. I close my eyes, inhaling a big breath of air and blowing it out slowly.

Push, I hear a familiar voice whisper in my ear, tears springing to my eyes.

He’s here….

I grab both of Emi’s hands and brace myself against the dirt floor. Valentina once again instructs me to push and I let out a cry of pain until I hear the sound of life.

The little pup wails as Valentina cuts her cord and wipes her clean with a warm wet cloth.

“Let me see her,” I pant, reaching out an arm to receive my baby.

Valentina wraps my pup in a small blanket and places her against my cheek so that our skin touches. Her cries grow soft and I k**s her chubby cheeks for the first time.

“Hi, baby,” I whimper, wishing Mateo were here to share this moment. “Oh, you’re so beautiful,” I chuckle, amazed Mateo and I had made something so perfect.

“Which one is she?” Valentina asks, wiping the top of her head.

“That’s A-Aurora,” I smile, swallowing the saliva building up in my mouth. “That’s our little sun.”

I feel the urge to push return and Valentina takes Aurora away from me. Itzel pats my knees and I grit my teeth as I push with every ounce of strength I have left in my body. The head stops at my entrance and I beg for a break.

“Just one more push, mama,” Itzel urges. “And then you can rest.”

Emi gives me a squeeze of encouragement and I once again push with all my might until a second pup screams with life. Her lungs seem stronger, her wails nearly deafening us as she kicks and thrashes in Itzel’s arms.

She cries inconsolably until Itzel brings her to me.

“No llores mi lunita {Don’t cry my little moon},” I whisper, my entire body trembling with exhaustion. “No llores Celina.”

Celina screams angrily and I take her in my arms, my eyes growing heavy as I remember her favorite lullaby.

“A la nanita nana, nanita ella, nanita ella.

Mi niña tiene sueño, bendito sea, bendito sea.”

Like a charm, Celina stops her crying to listen.

“There you are, my little moon,” I sigh as she coos. “My Celina.”

Itzel hands Celina to Danny and proceeds to help me birth my placenta. She then cleans me up, taking the bloody blanket and giving me a new one to wrap myself up in. I struggle to feed the pups but Valentina helps me to get them to latch onto my n*****s and before long, they are fast asleep.

Itzel insists we stay inside the home but I convince her that the barn would do nicely for us instead. I did not want to intrude any longer.

Ramon clears up the barn and gives us all the blankets he can find. Danny and Dieguito curl up in a corner, Karina curling up with Chava in the other corner, her jealous eyes glaring at me when Emiliano decides to stay with me. I am too tired to care, however, and gladly accept his and Valentina’s company.

Emiliano and I place my pups between us while Valentina spoons me from behind. Her hands wrap around my waist and she nuzzles her face into my back.

“It’s going to be okay,” She murmurs, squeezing me tightly.

I nod quietly, laying in silence as everyone slowly falls asleep. My two little angels lay beside one another, touching faces to comfort each other. I pull them close to me, needing to feel Mateo through them.

Very slowly I let my eyes close until I hear a soft whisper in front of me.

“They are so beautiful…”

My eyes burst open and I find Mateo lying before me, his silver eyes staring into my soul. The barn is long gone, a beautiful meadow taking its place. Our little girls lay fast asleep, still curled up next to each other.

Tears line my eyes and I reach out to touch my mate, hoping he was not an illusion.

“You did so good, my love,” he whispers, taking my hand and placing it on his cheek.

“You left me,” I whimper, taking my hand back from him. “You lied to me.”

“I did not,” he chuckles, interlocking our fingers before I can pull away. He k****s the back of my hand, the sparks igniting under his touch “I was with you the whole time.”

“You were supposed to be here!” I snap. “We were supposed to do this together!”

“I know,” he sighs, staring down at our pups. “Can you forgive me?” he asks, his silver pools swirling with love.

“I’m going to miss you,” I cry. “You can’t just leave me!”

“But Sofia,” he murmurs, reaching out to caress my face. “I am always with you.”

My face bursts with tingles and I close my eyes to drink in his presence.

“I love you, Sofia.”