Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Acknowledgments
Also by Ophelia Black
About the Author
Playlist
Giver- K-Flay
Issues - Julia Michaels
Another Love- Tom Odell
Nite Sky -Robot Koch
Do you Remember- Jarryd James
Night Call- Londo Grammar
Hold On- Chord Overstreet
Push and Pull – No Doubt
Blood/ Water- Grandson
Running Up That Hill- Kate Bush
Bad Blood- Taylor Swift
Daylight- David Kushner
In My Veins- Andrew Belle
Karma- Taylor Swift
Look What you Made me Do- Taylor Swift
Howl- Florence + The Machine
Heartlines- Florence + The Machine
Talk Show Host- Radiohead
Summertime Sadness- Lana Del Rey
Heavy in your Arms- Florene + The Machine
River- Bishop Briggs
Waiting Game- Banks
Sirens- Fleurie
Blinding- Florence + The Machine
CHAPTER ONE
“That’s the last one.” Awe, gratitude, and pride flood my body with serotonin as I sign my watercolor with a flourish and wrap it for the gray-haired woman in the black maxi dress.
I never dreamed I could have this back home in my isolated mountain town.
In a patriarchal society where hierarchy and usefulness depend on pedigree and the Alpha’s opinion, there’s no time for dreams.
Good wolves do as they’re told. But not me. I’ve had a spot at the farmer’s market every weekend faithfully for the past six months, and my audience has grown exponentially.
Declining party invitations, dragging myself out of bed with the sun after a week of grueling classes, and making time to continue creating art has brought me to this moment.
I slip the protected canvas into a paper bag with handles. “Thank you.”
“We love your work, dear. This is going to make my daughter’s birthday extra special. You’ve grown so much over the years.”
“You follow my socials?” She’s not my usual demographic. I study her carefully. What is she doing, singing my praises. You can take the girl out of the dysfunctional pack, but you can’t take the emotional trauma out of the girl.
