THROWDOWN SHOWDOWN: Alpha vs Beta--Final Battle Part Deux

Today is beta day. Our senstive hero is going to take his shot at the same scene. For those who missed Monday's alpha scene, you can find it here.

Here is the setup again:Setup: The heroine has just learned that her old boyfriend—whom she thought was dead—is in fact, alive and well several years later. Said boyfriend has stopped by her house.  And let’s be honest, she still cares for the man. They didn’t break up, she thought he was dead! Alas, the supposed dead man is also the supposed dead best friend of the hero. That’s when the alpha/beta boyfriend shows up.

Let's go!

Mac took careful steps up the walkway to Sarah’s house, unease tightening his chest. The news he’d gotten about his old best friend had rocked him to his core. It couldn’t be true. Because if John truly was alive … he’d want Sarah back. Mac shook his head in defeat.


The shock of this news was going to hurt Sarah. She’d already been broken into pieces when she’d learned of John’s death in the first place. Mac had been the one to comfort and console her, making her see that life was still worth living. Then they had grown close. Three years was a long time to mourn a lost love and create a new life. A life with Mac. He clenched his eyes as he reached the front porch.

Would Sarah run into her dead lover’s arms? Would she question the motives behind his death? Surely she would want answers, just as Mac did. But in finding answers, Mac would be that much closer to loosing Sarah, the woman he had grown to love. He wasn’t sure he would be able to live without her laugh. Her smile. The way she made him feel so at ease. And Mac was certain he wouldn’t be able to take the pain that would engulf Sarah once she learned to truth about her old love. It would kill her. And that would kill him. He had to find some way to protect her from this. He needed to protect her heart. And his.

Mac pulled open the screen door and raised his hand to knock. His eyes slid to scene beyond the glass window and all the blood rushed from his head. John. He was already here. And Sarah was already crying. Before Mac could take that first shocked breath, John had wrapped Sarah in a hug, tugging her a little too close, whispering in her ear.

Mac stood stock still, his fear for Sarah making his breath hitch. He kept his eyes riveted on the scene unfolding before him. Sarah drew away, tears cascading down her cheeks. But she was smiling. She was actually smiling. And her tight grip around John’s arms was evident to her happiness to see him. She pulled John in for another tight hug, cradled her beautiful face into the crook of John’s neck, and breathed deeply. Even though the closed door, Mac heard her contented sigh. His heart shattered.

Stepping back, he closed the screen door as quietly as he could. With light steps, he shuffled away from the house, back to the darkness that was his life. But he wasn’t going to let this be the end of it. With his broken heart hammering in his chest, he realized he had choices. First, he had to figure out why John had come back after all this time. Why his old best friend would run from his old life—and Sarah—only to come back and haunt them. Considering John’s past, Mac figured the details would be grisly, putting even more stress on Sarah. And second, he had to make sure Sarah knew that Mac was the better man. He only needed to figure out how to do both.

* * * *
 
Wow. That's quiet a difference. Notice how the beta is not confrontational? Notice how he is thinking more about what the heroine is going through? He's not quick to judge (like our alpha), but he wants answers nonetheless. And even though it's killing him, he's letting the heroine enjoy what he sees as a happy moment. You gotta love a sensitive man. *swoon*
 
Come back on Friday were we will digest all the alpha/beta goodness and announce a winner to this here war!
 
~JD