The Alpha Detour: I Said Yes to Someone New

A week before our marking ceremony, my fiance, Alpha Mason Wallace, changed the venue from Moonlight Bay to Firefly Grove because of a single comment from his childhood sweetheart, Serena Lowell.When the day came, I went to Moonlight Bay alone and began my ceremony by myself.…Moonlight Bay was where Mason and I had first met, and where I nearly died for him. It held meaning for both of us. I never thought he would change the venue so casually, just because of Serena.I stood frozen outside the private room, listening to Mason with his friends. My teeth chattered from the shaking, and I pressed my hand to my mouth to stop the sob from slipping out.One of his friends tried to talk sense into him. "This is a big deal. You should at least talk it over with Cora. If she finds out you changed it without telling her, she'll lose it."Mason sighed. "That's exactly why I didn't tell her. You know how Cora gets. She's about to be my Luna and still fusses over everything. If I told her,

The next day, Mason and I drove to the bridal shop to choose a wedding dress. The ride was silent the whole way.At a red light, Mason tapped the steering wheel, glancing at me and then away.I kept my face turned to the window.Finally, he broke the silence. "The flowers are crazy this summer. I bet the forest looks even better."When I didn't respond, he added, "They say Firefly Grove is swarming with fireflies this year. Couples who mark each other there will get the Moon Goddess's sweetest blessing.""Oh," I said.Awkwardness crept in. He tried again. "The marking only happens once. Don't you want a place that means more?"I frowned.The place where we first met, where I nearly lost my life, meant less to him than a spot Serena mentioned offhand."I can't think of a place that means more than Moonlight Bay," I said.He gave a stiff nod. "You're right."I turned to him and asked, "Anything else you want to tell me?"It was the last door I was willing to open for him, one

I held a bouquet of moonlit roses in my hands, just moments from walking into the church.Mason was stunned when the sound of the wedding march drifted through the phone. "Where are you? I don't see you."I smiled and kept my voice steady. "The lake looks beautiful tonight, doesn't it?"He stalled, then his tone spiked with panic. "You're at Moonlight Bay?""Yes.""Didn't you check the details before the ceremony? I changed the venue!"I watched the ripples catch the moon and answered softly, "I checked. I know you changed it to Firefly Grove."Mason was stunned. His voice trembled as he snapped, "If you knew, then why did you go there? Are you messing with me now?""Who changed the venue without telling me and made me look like a fool? And now, you have the nerve to say I'm messing with you?"He knew he was wrong, his voice edged with guilt. "I... I wanted to surprise you. How was I supposed to know...""A surprise?" I let out a mocking laugh. "You mean changing our ceremony

By the time Mason showed up, the ceremony was over. Simon and I were still by the water, taking in the moonlight.Mason stalked across the shore and seized my hand, his eyes bloodshot. "Cora, I only changed the venue. You're really going to leave me and be with someone else over that?"I shook my head. He still didn't see it."There's nothing left between us. Please go."He stared at me, wounded. "How can there be nothing? I'm your mate!""Not anymore." I slipped my arm through Simon's and walked away.Mason stepped in front of us and jabbed a finger at Simon. "What does he have that I don't? Even if you're mad at me, you don't marry a stranger out of spite!"Mason grew more agitated as he spoke, his emotions on the verge of collapse."I've known him longer than you," I said calmly. "He isn't a stranger."Mason blinked, then anger flared. "So, the venue was just an excuse. You were cheating on me all along, weren't you?"I let out a cold laugh. "You broke what we had. I'm not

The next day, the headlines blared that Mason was mauled by rogues at Moonlight Bay.Right after that, one of his friends called me. "Could you come to see him? He keeps calling your name," he pleaded.A beat later, he added, "If you want a last look, this might be it.""No," I said. "Mason and I are over. There's no reason to keep dragging this out."He hesitated, said he understood, and hung up."Is she still refusing to see me?" Mason asked with what strength he had left.His friend didn't answer, yet the look on his face said enough.Tears slid from the corners of Mason's eyes and soaked into the sheet.Out in the hall, Serena showed up with a fruit basket.When Mason saw her, a flicker of relief crossed his face. "You're here..."She set the basket on the table and looked at him without warmth. "Was it worth it? Doing this to yourself over Cora?"He didn't answer. He only let out a bitter smile.Serena sat on the edge of the bed, crossing her legs as the pitiful act sh