Celestina Crescent City Novels & Stories

I whispered. But Arnold continued mercilessly. “I, Alpha Arnold Reid of the Nightshade Pack…” My vision blurred. “…reject you, Leticia Hales of Frostfall Pack…” The mate bond snapped through my chest like something tearing apart inside me. “…as my Luna.”

Peter’s Basilica, its shadow swallowing the Vatican; the serpent tail snapping bridges across the Tiber; priests carrying relics out into the night as fire fell like rain. For the first time in centuries, the Eternal City was not eternal. Command Center – Crete “We just lost Rome,” the tech repeated, his voice breaking. Rivera’s eyes burned into the map, the entire city flashing red. “Where is Carson?” “On her way,” Dr. Voss said flatly, already pulling up mythological diagrams. “And for once, history may have a fighting chance.” Outside, Ellie and Cerebus stood ready — silhouettes against the rising smoke.

"Your father just has spare princess apartments lying around?" "We're a royal family. We have spare everything." He stopped at a set of double doors carved with more of those crescent moons. "I had them prepare these for you specifically. Thought the symbolism might help you feel less like a prisoner." "I am a prisoner though. A really well-dressed one." "You're under protection. There's a difference." "Is there?" He pushed open the doors. I stopped breathing. The room was gorgeous. Huge windows overlooking the city. A bed that could fit five people. Tapestries on the walls showing women in armor, women on thrones, women commanding armies. All of them had the crescent moon mark on their face

“Good. Serra and Thomas will stay with you. If anyone approaches who is not us, you three hide and send a signal. Do not engage. Understand?” “Understand.” We left at sunset, moving fast through the wilderness. The Crescent Institute was four hours away at wolf speed, located in a valley that offered natural concealment. As we approached, I felt my wolf’s hackles rise. Something about this place felt wrong. Tainted. The same sickly wrongness I had sensed around Morgana’s dark magic. “They are doing more than genetic research here,” I said quietly to Cassandra. “I know. I can feel it too. Dark magic. Corruption. They are trying to artificially create what we are naturally.”

"I ca⁠n crush him with a single text to ou⁠r​ sho​rt-sellers. By noo⁠n, his n‍ame w‍ill be a footnote in a fina‌ncial tragedy⁠. Or I can let you p​lay with your foo​d." ⁠Celeste walked ba⁠ck to​ the stone balu‌strade,⁠ loo​king out over the grand, histo​ric city of Zurich as the⁠ first sn⁠owflakes beg⁠a​n to dance throug⁠h the a⁠i​r. The lon‌g roa​d to 150,000 words w‍as stretching‍ out before the​m,​ a path pav‍ed‍ with the system⁠atic​ destruction of everyone who‍ had ever wronge‌d h⁠er.

Crescent City Pack The council chambers were full as Alphas and their entourages mingled. The wives were mainly in the spectators’ seats. But several Alphas were now including them in their staff. The wife of the Beta to a neighboring pack to Crystal River handed a bag to Celeste. “Beignets from Café du Monde. I hear you have a sweet tooth.” Greedily Celeste accepted the bag, “You are my new best friend.” “Until her actual best friend gets here, or someone else gives her sweets,” Wyatt teased as he brushed powdered sugar off his wife’s face and growing belly. “Or she runs out.”

"Are you deceiving us?" Jenny Leo asked angrily, stepping forward to confront the receptionist. The receptionist shook her head at Jenny, saying, "I'm not deceiving you. We really are fully booked, and we don't have any rooms left." The receptionist looked at the three of them and continued, "Why?" Lilian Yanes inquired. "It's said that tomorrow there will be the cry of the phoenix at Phoenix Cry Mountain, so many people have come here to witness this once-in-a-lifetime event. That's why Cloud City is filled with visitors," the receptionist explained.

"I'm sure." "The fee is ten million. Non-refundable. Once we start, there's no turning back. We'll wipe your scent from existence. You can never return to our world." He pushed a file across the table. "You've really thought this through?" I signed the name Cressida. Probably for the last time. "I have." I walked out of the abandoned factory. The city lights glittered in the night. Every screen in the city played the same story. "Black Moon Alpha Ronan announces his Mating Ceremony with Cressida, to be held in seven days..."

“So did we.” She giggled, and the crowd cheered again, softer this time, more like a prayer. That evening, when the candles lit the city, Valcrest looked like a sky of stars fallen to earth. Every window glowed. Every rooftop flickered. The phoenix statue shone in the center square, its wings catching the flame-light until it seemed to breathe. From the balcony above, Cassian and I watched in silence. “It’s beautiful,” I whispered. “It’s yours,” he said.

What was once a small city turned into a deep, writhing metropolis with buildings that disappear into the clouds around us as I drive my mother toward the performing arts center in the middle of downtown, the city washed in twinkling lights that reflect off glass skyscrapers and wet pavement. There used to be a forest here–a deep, endless one. Roads were narrow and made of dirt instead of multi-lane highways and bridges that span miles, that span entire pack territories that linger beneath the shadows. Crescent Falls is… too loud. Too mechanical. Too electric. It echoes even in the darkest hours of night–a constant hum of noise. The sound of life itself. And for someone like me… it’s too muc