the tears on my pellow

Episode 1: The Girl Behind the Perfect Smile The rain drummed softly against the tall glass windows of Blackwood Manor, each drop tracing a lonely path down the panes like tears searching for a place to rest. Inside the mansion, crystal chandeliers glittered above polished marble floors. Priceless paintings lined the walls, and servants moved quietly through the endless halls. Everything inside the estate spoke of unimaginable wealth. To the world, Blackwood Manor was a dream. To Seraphina Blackwood, it was a cage. She stood before the window of her luxurious bedroom, wrapped in a white silk robe. Moonlight spilled across her flawless face, highlighting her emerald-green eyes and long black hair that flowed to her waist. At only twenty-two, Seraphina was already known throughout the vampire kingdom. The billionaire heiress. The most beautiful woman in the Blackwood Clan. The future Queen of the Vampire Council. People envied her life. They admired her expensive gowns, private jets, luxury cars, and endless fortune. No one knew that every night... She cried herself to sleep. A single tear escaped her eye before landing on the soft pillow resting on her enormous bed. She stared at the damp spot and whispered, "Why does everything I have still feel like nothing?" A knock interrupted her thoughts. "My Lady," a maid called gently. "Lord and Lady Blackwood are waiting for you." Seraphina quickly wiped away her tears. The lonely girl disappeared. The confident billionaire returned. "I'll be down shortly." She dressed in a breathtaking black evening gown, fastened a diamond necklace around her neck, and practiced the perfect smile in the mirror. Perfect posture. Perfect appearance. Perfect daughter. A perfect lie. The dining hall looked more like a royal palace than a family home. A table that could seat fifty guests held only three people. Lord Victor Blackwood. Lady Helena Blackwood. And Seraphina. Dinner was served in silence. No one spoke until Lord Victor folded his napkin and looked directly at his daughter. "I have exciting news." Seraphina forced a smile. "What is it, Father?" He exchanged a pleased glance with Helena. "The Ashford family has officially accepted our proposal." Confusion crossed Seraphina's face. "Proposal?" Lady Helena reached across the table. "My darling... congratulations." "For what?" "You are getting married." The words struck harder than any blade. Seraphina's fork slipped from her fingers and clattered against the marble floor. "...Married?" Lord Victor nodded proudly. "To Prince Lucien Ashford." Her heart stopped. Lucien? The vampire prince she barely knew? "I never agreed to this." Her father's expression darkened. "You don't need to." "I don't love him." Lord Victor leaned forward. "Love is for ordinary people." "You are a Blackwood." "You marry for power." Seraphina slowly rose from her chair. "So my happiness doesn't matter?" Lady Helena sighed. "Happiness comes after duty." "No." Seraphina shook her head. "Happiness comes from freedom." Lord Victor slammed his hand onto the table. "You were born to protect this family's legacy!" "And what about my own life?" she shouted. Silence. Every servant froze. No one had ever heard Seraphina raise her voice. Lord Victor's crimson eyes glowed. "The engagement is final." "You will marry Lucien." "You have no choice." Without another word, Seraphina turned and walked away. The cool night air greeted her as she wandered into the vast gardens surrounding the estate. She needed to breathe. Needed to think. Needed to escape. Beyond the roses and ancient oak trees stood an iron gate separating vampire territory from the forbidden forest. Werewolf land. Since childhood, she'd been warned never to cross it. "Werewolves are savage beasts," her father always said. "They kill without mercy." But tonight... The forest didn't feel frightening. It felt... inviting. A sudden breeze carried the scent of pine and rain. Then she heard footsteps. Slow. Steady. Someone was there. "Who's there?" she called. Silence. Her pulse quickened. A tall figure stepped from the darkness. He was unlike anyone she'd ever seen. Broad shoulders. Dark hair. Golden eyes that seemed to glow beneath the moon. He wore simple black clothes, yet carried himself like a king. The stranger froze. His eyes locked onto hers. Everything around them disappeared. Time itself seemed to stop. A strange warmth spread through Seraphina's chest. Her heart pounded so violently she could hear it. The man looked equally stunned. His breathing became uneven. "No..." he whispered. "It can't be..." Seraphina swallowed nervously. "Who are you?" He took one slow step toward her. The wind shifted. Her scent reached him. His golden eyes widened. His voice cracked. "My Goddess..." He stared at her as if he had found something he'd been searching for his entire life. "...You're my mate." Seraphina's breath caught. "My... what?" Before he could answer— A deafening wolf howl echoed through the forest. Another followed. Then another. The mysterious man turned toward the trees, his expression changing from wonder to alarm. "They're coming," he said urgently. "If your family sees us together..." He looked back at her one last time. "They'll start a war." Without another word, he disappeared into the darkness. Seraphina stood frozen beneath the moonlight, her heart pounding and her mind racing. Who was he? Why had he called her his mate? And why did it feel as though her entire life had changed in a single heartbeat? As she returned to the manor that night, she laid her head on her pillow. The tears came again. But this time... They weren't tears of loneliness. They were tears of destiny. End of Episode 1 Coming Up in Episode 2 Seraphina can't forget the mysterious werewolf. Against her family's orders, she returns to the forest, where shocking truths about the fated mate bond begin to unfold—and someone is secretly watching them.