chapter 37. Waterfalls

**37. Waterfalls **

***Rafael's POV***

I twirled her around, sensing her smile as I admired the array of butterflies enveloping us. It was an unusual sight since creatures usually appear later in the day, but today was different, almost as if they were aware of Astrid's presence.
"Wow!" Astrid exclaimed, gazing at the multicolored butterflies that surrounded the lush grass around us.
"Look at that one; it's so beautiful," she said, pointing to one.
"Indeed, very beautiful," I replied, not focusing on the butterflies but on Astrid. Her radiant smile was more enchanting than any fluttering wings.
"Would you like one to come and sit on you?" I asked.
"Of course, I would love that, but let's be honest, how is that even possible?" She rolled her eyes at me, which I found amusing once more.
Oh, I believe my little mate has no notion about our gifts. Even though I can't understand them like Eva, it's another of my gifts that I attract other species no matter what they are towards me, but that's not only because of my charming personality; otherwise, I'd keep inviting everyone towards me, including those I don't want, but my gift is that I only invite these creatures when I want.
"Then look at this," I smirked, leaving her in her place and moving a little further.
When those butterflies didn't flee as I neared them, she might have realized something was up. I extended my hand and kept a finger pointed, hoping to attract those butterflies, and as soon as I did, a blue butterfly with a dark line appeared and sat on my pointed finger. I took it carefully and turned to face Astrid.
Her mouth was wide open as she stared at me. I chuckled and approached her with caution.
"Wanna hold it?" I asked.
"Can I do that?" she asked, shaking her head.
"She already seems to like you, believe me. Now extend your hand." She obeyed my command, and I carefully placed the butterfly on her fingertip. I kept her hands linked so that Butterfly could feel my presence and stay on Astrid's fingers for as long as it could.
"How did you do that?" I let go of her hand, and the butterfly flew away, joining the others.
"Actually, that's one of my gifts," I explained, realizing she might not be familiar with our abilities.
"Huh? What gift?" She frowned at me.
Oh boy! I can't blame her; we are the ones who are extremely private and refuse to let anyone outside our sphere know about any of our abilities. I should have figured she was unaware of it.
"Come, I'll explain as we go into the water," I said, holding her by the waist, but instead of plunging into the water, I teleported us to the center of the falls and made Astrid stand on the rock beneath.
"What just happened?" she asked, blinking.
"See, I told you," I smirked.
As we stood amidst the falls, she asked, "But how and why does everyone have this superpower or ability?"
I went on to explain the concept of gifts, detailing how they were inherent traits for normal vampires, while royals possessed unique abilities.
"Normally, even royals have a maximum of three gifts, but I don't know how I have more than anybody can think of, and I am still in the process of learning mine, but one of my powers is that I can copy anyone's gift except Eva's, and she, too, has the same issue going on," I informed her.
"So Eva has this ability as well?" She asked about the teleportation.
"No, but Eva has a unique ability to understand what animals are trying to convey and can communicate with them, but I have a completely different thing going on with me," I replied.
"What more can you do besides this?" She asked excitedly.
"Well, I can teleport." I halted and teleported ourselves back to land since I knew this was going to take us a long time and I was scared she would get sick if we kept standing underwater, and I have come to know that, unlike werewolves, she is not immune to diseases like others. "Well, I can read minds and communicate through it," I revealed.
"Mind-reading?!" Her eyes widened.
"Don't worry, you're an exception, perhaps because you're my mate," I chuckled.
"You can't read mine?" She let out a sigh of relief.
"Were your thoughts about me? Is that why you were concerned about me reading your mind?" I teased.
She blushed and averted her gaze from me.
"Gotcha!" I laughed.
"No, you are wrong. That was not something I agreed on." She disputed it, but I couldn't take my pleased smirk off my face.
"Okay, anything else you want to ask?" I asked.
"Yes, you mentioned regular vampires and royals. What makes you different from them?"
"You have got a point there" I proceeded on clearing the doubt too.
"What do you mean you were born a vampire? That means you vampires have the ability to reproduce." She asked.
"I get where you're coming from, and sure, we can, but only the royals or those who have been mates with humans can, which is why there are fewer children in the region."
"I see." She nodded
"Can I ask you one more question?" She asked.
"Sure"
"Did you read my family's minds? Do you know what I went through?" I expected this from her since I knew it would cross her mind.
"We'll talk about it when we get home, but rest assured that I know most of the details, and even if I don't, nothing will change my mind," I assured her. I don't want to ruin our moment with this nonsense.
She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply.
"Come on, we don't have time to waste; let's start with your first swim lesson," I said, taking her hand in mine and jumping into the water.
Squealing, but with a firm grasp on her, I taught her crucial techniques in the shallow waters, enjoying the sunset together.
"You go change under that tree," I told her, and she did.
As she emerged, my control over my vampire instincts wavered, but it was better than before. "How come you haven't changed yet?" she inquired. At the very least, my mind wouldn't constantly claw me to drink the delicious blood coursing through her veins.
Yes, that thing hasn't gone yet, and I'm worried I'll end up hurting her, which is why I try to keep my distance, but I don't have control over my actions.
"For this," I grinned, grabbing her hand and transporting us back to the center of the falls.
"Rafael!" she yelled. "I had only changed just now."
"That's the exciting part."
She softly smacked my shoulder, but I wasn't about to let her go, so I dove again, this time with her in my arms.
Lost in playful moments and drying ourselves as the sun set, we eventually reached my mother's cemetery, where Astrid tensed.
"Is there anything wrong?" I asked.
"Why do I feel like I've been here before, Rafael?" she wondered. So now comes the moment of truth.
"Does that place ring a bell for you?" I questioned, pointing towards a familiar spot.
Her eyes widened in recognition. "Don't tell me this site is connected to my pack because I recall being here before, and there's even a treehouse I constructed in the woods."
"Really, we should go there another time."
"Is this place actually connected to my pack?" she asked.
"Yes, and it was from a little distance here that we first..." I halted because it wasn't a meeting and we hadn't even seen each other. "We sensed each other's existence, and you fled away from me," I stated.
"Did you notice me?" she asked.
"Yes, and I even followed you, but I couldn't cross the borders because werewolves would regard it as an invitation to battle, so I tracked you from there," I stated.
"No wonder I used to feel so much better when I was here, and I used to wonder why no one could find me," she sighed.
"You have the answer now since you are my mate; you know I used to come here whenever I missed my mother, and the same thing happened that day as well." I moved a few feet. "I was telling my mother how lonely I am and how much I need someone when she left, and then I went to that hill, and the rest is history."
"I'm sorry, but I had to flee for a reason." She tried to explain her reasoning, but I didn't want her to feel compelled to tell me everything.
"It's okay, I'm not asking you why because you can tell me that later, and I was telling you that because I felt so disheartened that not even my mate wants me, so that was my wrath acting. Let's not talk about it anymore and go do what we came here for." I led her to a very covert place.
Mom's grave, as usual, was encircled by a swarm of fireflies, creating a dull glow. When I saw my mother's grave, I became distraught, but I tried to hide it and sat quietly in the corner. Astrid sat next to me and slipped her fingers around my wrist. I rested my head on her shoulder, savoring this lovely moment.
"Thank you for today; it was the happiest day of my life," Astrid exclaimed as we prepared for the night.
"Same here, and you can bank on it; we've got brighter days ahead of us," I said as I lay down on my side to sleep.
"I will hold onto that," I heard her say.
"Then get ready; we're going to start your training tomorrow, and I want you to be able to protect yourself if a situation occurs," I said quietly.
"It's a good thing I plan to learn it."
I laughed. "Good Night"

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _