The Gold Queen (Prequel)

***Sofia ***

A loud howl of agony rumbles through the battleground from across the field, my father’s cries unmistakable. A blast of cold air coats the field with a thin layer of ice as the former King screamed.

Mom took the bullet… She took the bullet for me …

I stare at the golden body of my mother’s wolf, a stream of b***d pouring from the wound on her neck, my body frozen from the shock of her sacrifice. The pain that has ravaged my body succumbs to the new pain bleeding from my heart.

Time seems to move at a snail’s pace as I look up at Julian, the barrel still pointed at me. He snarls in anger, enraged that he had missed his target. He gets on all fours, morphing into a golden beast, his ears curved to his head and his lips curled back to reveal sharp teeth. He leans back on his hind legs, preparing to launch himself at his prey as I stood, paralyzed in agony. The pain was spreading to my lungs, making it hard to breath while the muscles in my legs were on fire.

Unable to hold myself up anymore, I collapse onto my knees, struggling to keep my eyes open as I cough for air. I hear Julian’s howl and I brace myself for impact when a stream of water forms in front of my mother and I, lifting itself up to create a wall of ice to shield us.

My father’s snarl can be heard from the other side of the icy wall as he defends us from Julian. The struggle seems to intensify between them and the wall begins to crack as a wolf’s body is slammed against the wall, staining its surface with b***d.

“Papa…” I croak, collapsing onto my side as I fight for air. “D-don’t hurt my papa…”

My mother’s ragged breathing draws my attention and I slowly drag myself towards her, ignoring the burning sensations tingling in my legs. I force myself into a sitting position and pull my Mom onto my lap, pressing my hand against the bleeding wound. She shifts back into her human form, her eyes struggling to stay open.

“Mama?” I whimper, turning her on her back so she could face me.

A small smile tugs on her lips as she looks up at me and I feel her body shiver against my own. She was getting colder as her life seeped out from her wound.

“Sofia…” she whispers before abruptly going into a coughing fit.

An endless stream of b***d pours out of her wound but no matter how hard I press, I can not stop the bleeding in her neck. She reaches out to touch my face, her fingers ice cold.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t believe you,” she cries.

I shake my head and caress her hair “No, it’s okay, Mama. You believe me now. That’s all that matters.”

She smiles through her tears, b***d staining her teeth. Her eyes begin to flutter and I tap on her cheeks to keep her awake.

“I love you, Sofia,'” she murmurs.

“No, Mama. Stay awake,” I snap, shaking her a bit. I look around frantically for Emiliano but he was nowhere to be found. “Emi!! Emiliano!! EMILIANO!! Please, anyone! Somebody help me!”

I press my head against my mother’s and sob. “Please mami, stay awake.” I sob. “Stay awake for me. Please.”

My mother had failed me… but she was still my mommy and I did not want her to die.

Julian and my father bang against the ice wall, the cracks deepening with every blow until it gives in. As the ice wall collapses, we see Julian pin my father down against the cold earth. My mother turns to look at my father, gasping for air.

“I love you, Jos…”

Her body goes limp in my arms, the look of absolute devastation overtaking my father’s red eyes as he watched the love of his life fade away.

He lets out a cry of agony, giving Julian the access he needs to get to his throat. My father’s howl ends with the horrid sound of his neck breaking.

“PAPA!!!!” I scream, my body shaking as I stare at the lifeless bodies of my parents.

Julian’s wolf smirks at me, proud of his victory over not one but two Reyes wolves. I was now the last one on his list. He shifts back into his human form , a crooked smile stretched across his lips.

“I told you, Sofia,” he laughs. “I told you there was a way to avoid all the b***d shed,” he adds, nodding to my parents. “But you just had to choose that mutt over me. ME! A GODDAMN KING!” he pants with rage.

I could feel myself slipping away into the inviting darkness as he approached me. His hot fingers wrap around my throat and lift me up so that I meet his eyes. My lungs were on fire as I tried to force air into them.

“I could have made you so happy Sofia,” he says, brushing his lips against mine.

I whimper in disgust as I struggle to free myself from his grip and he retaliates by squeezing my throat even harder.

“But you chose him,” he snarls, digging his fingernails into my flesh.

“I-I love Teo,” I g***n, the world dimming slightly as I try to keep my eyes open.

Julian growls, a hard slap jolting me awake. “Your Teo won’t save you this time, mi reina,” he snaps, grabbing a fistful of my hair and crashing his lips onto mine.

I shiver in agony and try to push him away, but it feels like tiny needles were piercing into my arms with every attempt I make to get him off of me. Desperate to regain my freedom, I bite his l*p until I taste b***d and he throws me onto the ground. I cry out, feeling every nerve in my body tingle with pain.

“You f*****g b***h!” he growls.

There’s a ringing in my ears as I try to refocus my blurry vision. Julian’s hazel eyes turn black, the wolf within taking over. The beast licks its lips hungrily as it looks upon me like prey and he prepares himself once more to pounce on me.

The world once again seems to slow down as I watch him stalk over to me. Just before I lose consciousness, the scent of pine and raspberries fills my nostrils and I close my eyes to welcome the darkness.

“I love you, Teo…”

.

.

.

***Mateo***

“Sofia?” I call out, feeling a faint pain in my legs as I fought off three wolves.

I always put my walls down during a fight to feel her. I needed to make sure she was okay. I call out a few more times and when I receive no response, I start to worry and call Emiliano instead.

“Emi, where are you?” I ask, ripping a wolf’s throat while crushing another’s windpipe telepathically.

“I’m at the house,” He replies, my heart dropping into the pit of my stomach.

“Where is Sofia? Is she with you?” I ask, panic rising in my chest as another surge of pain ripples through me.

“No,” he replies sheepishly. “I had to go…”

“GO? GO WHERE?” I snarl, furious he has left his Queen unattended. “You were supposed to stay with Sofia. She is your responsibility during battle, Emi. That is what you signed up for!”

“But Valentina had her baby!” he argues.

My heart stops for a second.

She had her baby? Now? In the middle of a battle?!

“She’s not doing too good,” he adds. “Karina called and I couldn’t let my sister bleed out in a bathtub.”

My lungs begin to burn and I desperately gasp for air. My last remaining opponent takes advantage of my weakened state and the wolf pounces on top of me, snapping his sharp canines centimeters from my face. I find it hard to focus as I struggle to breathe but continue to push at the wolf with my paws to get him off.

A desperate howl sends a shiver down my spine, the King releasing a cloud of cold mist across the battleground. It was the distraction I needed to roll over and pin the wolf beneath me. I clamp my jaws on the wolf’s neck, hearing a sickly crunch as I drop the dead wolf on the ground. Just as I’m about to head in search of my wife, a group of wolves attempt to sneak off towards the hacienda mansion.

I could not let those wolves make it to the house with my family inside. Ignoring whatever pain Sofia was feeling, I rush off after the wolves, focusing my mind on the apparent leader. I imagine a hand crushing his legs and he yelps, falling over onto his snout and knocking over the rest of his companions. The wolf whines as he tries to get back onto his paws but once again collides into the ground.

Having immobilized the leader, I concentrate on a pair of wolves, lifting them up several feet in the air. They swing and kick their feet in a desperate attempt to be set free, looking around frantically for their invisible attacker. When they’re about 20 feet in the air, I swing them down hard against the ground, a loud crack echoing in the trees. Before they can run, I lift them up again before swinging them back down again… and again…. And again until the wolves are practically pulp. I discard their bodies and focus on the last two wolves who in their panic, begin to sprint towards the house.

I pull them by their paws and drag them back to where their dead companions lay. They let out pathetic cries of mercy but they would receive none. Goddess only knew what those sick bastards planned to do with my family back at the house.

The king lets out a second howl, agony in the notes of his song before he falls silent.

Sofia!

With no time to lose, I opt to simply snap the wolves’ necks and toss their limp bodies off to the side. I stick my nose out to sniff the air, my nostrils filling with the scent of b***d and death.

“Come on, Sofia. Where are you?” I whine, an inexplicable fear stiffening my muscles at the thought of her being hurt.

A gentle breeze pushes past me, carrying the all too familiar coffee and almond scent I woke up to every morning. I run towards the source of the smell, praying to the Moon Goddess that my mate was alright.

As I approach the hill, I see Julian toss my mate to the ground and tower over her. I could feel my b***d come to a boil as all the vile things he planned to do to her filled my mind.

Once I’m a few feet away, I lean on my hind legs and pounce on top of Julian. He shifts mid collision, his wolf taking over as we hit the ground. All I see is red as I snap my jaws at him, eager to end his reign of terror.

I understood his obsession with Sofia. Who wouldn’t fall in love with her after having the honor of meeting her? She was perfection embodied; but she was mine and I would be damned if this bastard took her from me.

He kicks at me with his paws but when it seems I won’t budge, he clamps his teeth down on my fore paws, my wolf yelping as I climb off. He gets to his feet, standing up on his hind legs to challenge me. I mimic him and we once again collide, biting and clawing at each other.

From the corner of my eye, I could see my mate curled up in a ball fast asleep, or so I hoped, on the floor. I needed to get her to a hospital now.

I try to gain the advantage by concentrating on his neck but as I try to focus, I feel Julian’s paw radiate with heat. Having lost to me twice, Julian knew all he had to do to defeat me was break my concentration to keep me from killing him.

As we continue to fight, I see his lips form an O before a blast of fire pours from his snout in Sofia’s direction. I manage to think fast and lift a block of ice that seemed to be scattered in front of her, shielding her from the scorching flames. As I do so though, Julian manages to get the upper hand and he bites down on my shoulder. I let out a b***d curdling howl, instinctively delivering a forceful blow to his face. He lands a few feet away, a chunk of my shoulder still his mouth.

He looks at me in terror as I tower over him, for he knew I could end him with just one look. Like the coward he was, he scrambles to his feet and runs in the opposite direction.

The dark shadow flies over him, and I realize it’s a black owl with glowing red eyes. It’s wings cut a hole in the universe, creating a portal.

He’s trying to escape!! Luis snarls.

I concentrate on Julian’s feet and pull them back, dragging him towards me.

The Owl shrieks, flapping its black wings in my direction. Sharp black feathers are flung in my direction, a few piercing into my flesh and breaking my concentration.

Now free, Julian races through the portal, disappearing into it as it closes behind him. The owl hoots, almost as if laughing at me for failing to capture Julian. Angry, I focus on its tiny neck and squeeze, the Owl bursting into a million black shards.

The owl reassembles a few feet away from me, shrieking in anger before vanishing into thin air. I hear my mate gasp for air in her sleep and dive towards her, shifting and pulling her into my arms.

“Come on baby. Wake up,” I plead, tapping her cheeks and kissing her forehead. “Wake up!” I snarl.

She was cold to the touch but I could not see any wounds on her other than on her throat.

“Mateo, Valentina’s awake now,” Emiliano mind-links. “You should see Dieguito. He’s beautiful.”

I let out a breath of relief. My sister and nephew were okay but could not relax knowing Sofia was not out of danger yet.

“Just hurry back,” I snap, desperately trying to shake Sofia awake. “She won’t wake up,” I whimper.

Emiliano offers a reply but I’m no longer listening, fear taking over as I stare at my unmoving mate.

“We’re on the hill to the north,” I add, clutching my mate to my chest and smoothing down her hair.

“Wake up, chaparrita. Wake up my love,” I plead into her hair as I stare at the two dead bodies of the former King and Queen.