Today is the day. FINALLY. The alpha and beta males are going to faceoff! You are going to witness their characteristics in the exact same scene to see how each of them would handle things with their woman. And forgive the extreme way in which I portray these individuals. This is my way of showing the most clichéd versions of their basic characteristics. Because of the length of this post, today the alpha hero will strut his macho stuff. And Tuesday, the beta will calmly show you his.
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. Dun dun dun. That’s when the alpha/beta boyfriend shows up. Teeheehee.
Onward!
Mac tromped up the walkway to Sarah’s house, tension coiling in his every muscle. The news he’d gotten about his old best friend had rocked him to his core. It couldn’t be true. Because if John was truly alive … he’d want Sarah back. Mac clenched his jaw. That was not going to happen. Mac had to talk to Sarah before John got to her. She wouldn’t understand the supposed death and resurrection of a man she’d once loved. And Mac wouldn’t let John’s problems interfere with the life he had created with Sarah. She belonged to him. She loved him. And while Mac was glad his old friend was alive, John had lost his chance with Sarah the minute he’d decided to play this game. Too much time had passed. Too many things had happened. And John was treading in dangerous territory.
Mac wrenched open the screen door and raised his hand to pound on the solid wood. His eyes slid to scene beyond the glass window and his blood raged through his veins.
John. He was already here. And Sarah was already crying. Before Mac could jerk open the door, John had wrapped Sarah in a hug, tugging her a little too close, whispering in her ear.
Mac burst through the door, eyes wide, anger nearly strangling him. The door crashed against the wall, making John and Sarah snap their heads around. Sarah pulled away from John, her beautiful blue eyes wide with shock.
John gave a cocky grin. “Long time no see.”
In five long strides, Mac had his hand around John’s neck. Mac’s words came hissed through clenched teeth. “What do you think you’re doing? This is the last place you should be.”
Mac felt Sarah’s hand on his arm but he ignored it. “Get out,” he ordered.
“No. I came for Sarah. I owed her the truth.”
Mac’s knuckles went white as he gripped John harder. It was too easy for the undead man talk. Mac didn’t want to hear him talk. He suddenly wanted to see him suffer, and badly. “You lost your chance at the truth the moment you let her think you were dead. Get out. I won’t tell you again. You shouldn’t have come back here.”
“Please.” Sarah’s voice broke through the fury thundering through Mac’s head. “He just wanted to talk.”
Mac swung his eyes to Sarah. “It didn’t look like talking.”
“I don’t care what it looked like. For God’s sake, Mac, put him down!”
“No.” Mac lifted John off the floor with ease. His dear old friend had lost some important muscle mass during his death vacation.
“You don’t want to do this, Mac,” John choked out.
Mac snarled. “Yeah, I do.” Mac swung around, dragging a flailing John behind him. He ignored Sarah’s cries. She would understand later. He would make her understand. John didn’t love her. He was up to no good. No man would ever leave his love to suffer like John had. There was no reason to cause that kind of pain. John should’ve stayed dead. Mac kicked open the screen door, shoving John out. He fell face first onto the wooden porch. He scrambled to his feet.
“Don’t come back,” Mac ground out, chest heaving with anger. He slammed to door and turned back around to Sarah. Her face stretched tight with frustration, her eyes still bubbling with tears. Mac’s protectiveness of her consumed him. He went to wrap her in a hug. “I’m sorry.”
Her hands came up and shoved him away. “Get out.”
“What?”
“You didn’t have to do that. I can take care of myself.” She cradled her arms across her chest. “I don’t need you to fight my battles for me, Mac. Don’t you think I know something is wrong with this?”
Mac reached for her again. She shuffled away. A muscle in his jaw ticked. “Don’t do this. I—”
“I don’t want to hear it.” She pushed past him and thrust the door open. “I can take care of myself.”
She was kicking him out of her house? Or her life? What the hell had just happened here? He was only doing what he thought was right. He had to protect her from the one man Mac knew would tear her heart in two—again. He wouldn’t allow it. Sarah meant too much to him. Mac regarded Sarah carefully, noticing her rigid posture, the firm set of her jaw, and the fire in her eyes. Aggravated to beat all hell, Mac went to her and touched a finger to her cheek. She kept her eyes locked on the floor.
“This is serious, Sarah. And I’m sorry you had to face that kind of shock. Yes, there's something seriously wrong with this. He doesn’t deserve you forgiveness and I will make sure he knows it.” And with that, he left her.
* * * *
Alphas, sheesh. Their emotions are sometimes hard to control. But no worries, he’ll eventually figure out what he did wrong. And then he’ll fix it. It’s what they do.
What do you think about the Alpha’s behavior? A little over the top? He doesn’t seem to think things through, does he? No doubt he’ll spend more time correcting his behavior than figuring out the right way to act in the first place.
Come back on Tuesday to see how the beta handles this exact same situation!
~JD
