Chapter 47. Empathy

**47. Empathy**

***Rafael's POV:***

When I mentioned her former pack, I could feel Astrid stiffen next to me. "Why there?" Astrid asked.

I pulled over in the bushes and decided now was the time to tell her everything.

"Little Dove, Astrid, I want you to listen to me without interrupting and with a clear mind, okay?" Astrid simply nodded.

I sighed, turned to face her, and forced her to face me. I'd been meaning to tell her for a long time, and I didn't want to take her there without an explanation.

"Do you recall when your brother and Edward visited us a few weeks ago?" I got started.

"Yes, and we did a good job of showing them their places," she giggled.

That took me by surprise. Astrid was pleased with something I did. "We did. You should have seen their expressions at the time." I asked, and she laughed, which relieved the tension between us and gave me the confidence to tell her what I wanted.

"True," she laughed.

"Okay, they weren't simply there to observe the event or have to be there. I had to get them with me forcefully. There is much more to it," I began to explain.

"Okay, I'm listening." She reclined back in her seat, but her gaze was fixed on me.

"You do realize I have a father waiting for my blood, right?" I groaned. "Additionally, I can't get to this Azael. To be on point, walls are closing on me from all sides."

"I understand, but why does your father hate you so much?" Astrid asked.

"You know we're on the same page with this; your parents hate you for no reason other than they don't want you to become powerful, and my father doesn't want me to ascend to the throne because he is greedy like that and he knows I can defeat him single-handedly, so he is jealous of me," I pointed out.

"Do you want to brag about your strength, Mr. Delmar?" She asked, her brow furrowed. My surname sounded good in her mouth, but I think it would be better if she wore it. 'Astrid Rafael Delmar'

I chuckled. "What if I say yes?"

"Whatever," she said, rolling her eyes at me. "Now, back to the point: how is everything connected?" She asked.

"So after we returned from your pack, even without knowing your part of the story, I was enraged," I continued. To say she was astonished would be an understatement. She looked to be completely unaware of everything.

"I severed all business links with your packs, which would have resulted in your pack going bankrupt if someone hadn't intervened," I groaned.

"Who?"

"Of course, my dearest Daddy. I couldn't believe he went to such lengths to hurt me. He blabbers about how he hates werewolves and all that nonsense, but now he's helping them. This makes me wonder if he ever truly loved my mother, so the damage is minor, even if I have harmed your pack's finances." I clenched my teeth.

"Thank goodness it didn't," my head jerked towards her. I can't believe Astrid said that.

"What? But why is that? "I asked.

"First of all, it was stupid of you. Even if I was rejected and treated in the worst possible way, I don't think anything would justify what you did. I agree what they did was wrong, but Rafael, there were a few of them involved in everything, but why should everyone suffer for that? Their only mistake was that they despised me and didn't say anything about being mistreated, but they didn't injure me either, and I don't think that's such a big deal that they need punishment. We could argue that we wouldn't, but we say that because we have been through the experience, but let's be honest, we might have done the same if we didn't know what it meant." She sighed and shrugged her shoulders.

No matter how much those words stung, she had a point. Maybe I, too, would have done the same, but since I know what it feels like to be mistreated, I would easily justify myself, but in reality, maybe or maybe not, I would have done the same.

"Okay, I understand your perspective, but I didn't directly damage anyone," I explained.

"If you strike on the pack's financial element, it affects everyone." She was arguing. "But let's put that aside. It didn't affect them in any way, so I don't see why you were so bothered to tell me this, and if you did some harm to them, I guess you would've argued. Maybe I would've agreed after many persuasions." She pouted and looked so adorable that I felt compelled to kiss her perfect lips.

I shook my head, attempting to shake the feeling that no, now is not the moment. I squirmed in my seat, trying not to look her in the eyes.

"I did something worse," I remarked quietly.

"What now?" She furrowed her brow.

I was afraid of what she might do for the first time, but I had to tell her.

"Okay, Little Dove, I want you to hear me completely." Wow, this vampire king is scared of someone for the first time, but it's my queen we are talking about. "You know, when I'm angry, I have no control over my actions; it's just that I don't show it in front of you, but I promise this was in the beginning when there was nothing I could do." I began rambling.

"Get to the point, Rafael." She glared at me.

"I brought your brothers and father to the dungeon and tortured them." I gulped after the words left my mouth.

I could see a change in Astrid's expression. From confused to angry. "What!" Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Please hear me out, Astrid. It was after the event that I bought you in the castle that I learned how everyone abandoned you. I couldn't contain my rage, so I ordered Bryan to get them. Though I didn't hurt your father much, I gave him an earful. I swear I didn't beat him save for a punch. For your brothers. I did them major harm. I have to tell you that your brother wasn't easy to handle. I have almost restrained myself now. I get where you got that attitude from." I tried making a joke but instantly returned to my serious self when I saw Astrid glaring at me.

"I don't know what I would have done; it was like I was in a frenzy wanting to kill him, my mind playing images of all the awful things they would have done to you. I wanted them to suffer the same as you did. I wouldn't have stopped if he hadn't begged me by taking your name," I stated as I reflected on the incident.

I was going to rip his heart out when he mentioned that Astrid would hate me if I killed her brothers, which stopped me. I considered his statements and decided he was correct, so I told Bryan to kick them out.

"Rafael, what have you done?" Astrid exclaimed, a tear tracing her face. I looked at her with regret.

"Before behaving recklessly, you should first understand the entire story. My family had tortured me, but it had always been emotional torment. Yes, they forced me into the auction, but they never once raised their hand on me, except for my mother. As I told you before, Rafael, my brothers were the only ones that supported me, but only for the one time they changed their minds, but they didn't say anything. Yes, they were responsible for standing there and watching everything without doing anything. Still, they did not deserve the catastrophic results." She scoffed, staring at me in disbelief.

I had nothing to say; I was ashamed of my actions. Astrid is right. I had done wrong, but I never regretted it until Astrid told me about her background. Even if they mistreated her, I knew she adored them.

"I'm not sure what got into me, little dove. Nobody, not even myself, is safe from the beast inside me, and only your presence close to me can calm me down." I trailed the others. "Astrid, I'm not sure why I get so riled up. When I do things, it's as if my fury takes over and shuts down my logical side."

"Whatever, Rafael, you should have told it to me before." She scoffed and moved her gaze away from me.

"I know Little Dove, and trust me, I tried to tell you the truth, but things came up one after the other, and I didn't have time to say it," I said.

She didn't say anything and just stared out the window.

"Talk to me, Dove," I begged. I'm not too fond of her silence; I've had it for a long time, but all I want now is to hear her sweet voice.

I resumed driving, but my sight was locked on her the entire time. She was immersed in deep thoughts, and I noticed a shift in her expression.

"Why are we going there now?" Astrid asked.

"Remember, Azael, that someone warned me that he might be from your pack, and I also have to go through the inquiry of a man my father viciously murdered. I'm not familiar with him. I thought he was human at first, and I'm not sure what his fault was. I was late until I arrived, and that man died right in front of my eyes." I responded by recalling the experience.

Though we are vampires, flowing blood is nothing new to us, but seeing a human being slaughtered without any fault worries me.

"I had promised myself that I would reach out to his family and assist them. However, I am not sure if he is human. Recently, my sources informed me that the guy and Azael are the same, which I feel could be the reason my father killed him; perhaps he learned about my mother's letter. All of this makes it critical to understand more about these two people. I know my mother would never ask for human blood, but perhaps he was or is something powerful, and I need to find out why. Before you ask, I'm taking you with me because you know the pack better than anyone else, and you're the only one I can trust among them." I went over everything in great detail.

She stayed silent until we arrived at the pack, where we were greeted in Edward's pack house. Despite Edward's unwillingness to welcome me, I told him that perhaps after this visit, I would reconsider my decision, and that's why he wouldn't miss any opportunity.

I held Astrid's hand, even though she was huffing at me. Everyone was staring at us. Most of them were envious of us, and some were perplexed, perhaps wondering how Astrid and I had become so close.

When Charlotte approached me, Astrid let go of my hand and went to get something for herself. Charlotte's dress was concise, and her cleavage was on full display. She tried to strike up a conversation with me, but I ignored her. She went on. I gulped down my drink. She suddenly held her hand on mine, drawing her dangerously near me. I scowled at her, warning her to remove her hand from mine.

I would yell at her when I noticed Astrid standing behind us, brandishing daggers at us. She was staring at our hands. When I saw what was going on and pushed Charlotte, she fell on her butt.

Astrid turned and walked away before anyone could see her.

"How dare you touch me? Stay within your boundaries, or I will strangle you with my own hands," I warned that bitch.

I dashed after Astrid. She was muttering something beneath her breath, simmering with rage, and I knew she was cursing me.

"Little Dove," I said, but she turned aside. I sat in the chair directly across from her.

I kept calling her name, but she wouldn't look at me.

"Go sit next to somebody you like holding hands with," Astrid snarled.

"You are mistaken, Little Dove. I had no idea that...." I began to justify myself, but I needed her attention.

I grabbed the bottom of her chair and drew it closer to me. "Listen closely, my love. I had no idea what her plans were; she just walked up to me and threw herself on me; if you had waited a little longer, you could have seen how I pushed her to the floor," I stated steadfastly. "I have only eyes for you, little dove, and no one can take your place," I said.

My confession astounded her. I noticed the corners of her mouth rising in smile. She was attempting to hide it. Her solemn demeanor returned as I chuckled.

What she did next took my breath away. She raised her leg and slid it between my legs on the chair. She took that as support, pushed me back, and shifted her seat away from me.

"I have to use the restroom," she grumbled and stood up, leaving me with a broad grin.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Astrid was washing her hands when the door opened, and someone from within latched it.

"You have no idea how badly I want you now, Astrid," Edward said with a wicked grin.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

**Wow! Rafael did one hell of things that we all weren't aware of. What do you think he did right? And what's with this Edward now? He better start** **praying for his life now. Please ask for my socials in the comments if you are interested in seeing the characters. Sorry, I can't tell on my own.**