Painted Tainted

3

Back home, Xavier rubbed his stomach with a groan.

“I think… I have a running stomach,” he muttered, already hurrying toward the bathroom.

Vivi followed after a moment, mumbling something about “needing water” as she slipped down the hallway.

I didn’t think much of it.

I stood by the window instead, letting the moonlight wash over my skin.

The cool breeze wheezed past my face, tousling my hair gently.

For a moment, it felt calming; like the moon was whispering comfort.

I sighed and walked back to my chair, twirling my paintbrush around my fingers.

Usually, ideas came easily… but tonight my mind felt blank.

Restless, I stood and wandered toward my shelf of old paintings.

Sketches of landscapes, wolves, women, forests, pieces of me scattered on canvas.

Maybe an older painting would spark something new.

As I sifted through them, something slipped loose. A folded note tucked neatly at the corner.

“Huh?” I murmured, picking it up.

I turned it over, expecting maybe one of my old doodles.

But the second my eyes landed on the words…

…my heart dropped straight to the floor.

📝I’m in love with Xavier. I can’t do without him. I wish he’d break up with her already… maybe then she’ll finally see she’s not good enough for him. Oh Moon Goddess, please pair me with Xavier.📝

It was Vivi’s handwriting.

Vivi’s way of looping her Y’s.

Vivi’s style of dotting her i’s with sharp pressure.

“No…” I whispered.

“Vivi can’t… she wouldn’t…”

She had been with me through everything.

My childhood. My first shift. My paintings.

My dreams.

“Not Vivi,” I shook my head. “She wouldn’t do this to me.”

But my hand trembled and the note slipped from my fingers, drifting to the floor like a leaf.

My legs felt weak as I walked toward my room, needing space, needing breath.

But just as I reached the doorway… I heard giggling.

Soft, breathy giggling.

Vivi’s voice.

My stomach clenched.

I pushed the door open, half-expecting—hoping she was laughing at something silly from her romance books that she always read.

But instead…

A scene hit me so hard my breath tore from my chest.

Viviana was in Xavier’s arms. Too close.

She was touching him, Kissing him and doing things she had always rolled her eyes at when I did them.

My world tilted.

“What… what are you doing?” I choked out, my voice cracking with disbelief.

Vivi rolled her eyes like I was the one being dramatic.

“What does it look like, Cali?”

“Viviana… Xavier…”

My voice broke as tears blurred my vision.

“How could you do this to me?”

They didn’t move.

Didn’t deny it.

Didn’t even look sorry.

Vivi tightened her grip on him.

“Look, Cali… Xavier finally realized you’re not good enough for him. Which I’ve always known.”

Her words stabbed deeper than claws.

Xavier said nothing.

He just avoided my eyes like I was a stranger.

My chest caved in.

I couldn’t breathe.

I stumbled back and ran out of the house, tears burning my face.

The night air hit me like ice, but it wasn’t enough to numb the pain.

The betrayal.

The humiliation.

The disbelief twisting inside me.

Why would they do this?

I let Nina take over. My wolf bursting forward, desperate to escape, desperate to outrun the ache.

I raced into the forest, white fur slicing through the darkness.

Somewhere behind me, I faintly heard Xavier calling my name.

But I didn’t turn back.

He had hurt me.

They both had.

And nothing would ever be the same again.