by Coral Moore
I took a look through Niina’s favorite books before I started to write this, because I like to get a feeling for the blogs I guest post on and match their theme. We’ve read and enjoyed several of the same books, which is pretty typical because it’s the reason I’m here. Then, I started to wonder what it was about these particular books that attracted us both, because vampires and eighteenth century Scottish lads really don’t have much in common, after all. Do Wrath, the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, and Jaime, the Scottish Laird, have anything in common?
Well, yes actually. They’re both excellent examples of alpha males. So, let’s run down a few of the characteristics of alphas and figure out what it is about them that attracts us.
Confidence. Even though they might harbor doubts within, alpha males always present a confident face to the world. In fact, most of the time they verge on annoying arrogance, as any of their ladies can attest. Still, their unwavering belief in themselves is undoubtedly engaging. Their kind of swagger is difficult not to appreciate, especially from behind. *wink*
Tenacity. The alpha male will always fight to the end. If they believe in something, they won’t give up. Ever. This leads to a lot of what we love, and sometimes hate, about these guys. They often rush headlong into danger, with little thought to the consequences. Is there anything more swoon-worthy than a man who will always come to the rescue of his lady and his friends?
Passion. This is the big one, at least for me. Alpha males get furious, they fall head-over-heels in love, and they desperately cling to hope when they should give up because of their passion. This intensity sometimes overwhelms the important people in their lives and is the trait that can lead to the most trouble, but they certainly wouldn’t be the same without that fire.
Brand, the main character of my book Broods of Fenrir, is without question an alpha male. He exudes confidence, never gives up, and displays the fervor you would expect, though his violent past has left no aspect of him undamaged. The story is told mainly from his point of view, so you get to crawl inside his head and really see what’s going on in there.
If you’d like to talk more with me about alpha males, I invite you to chat with me on my Blog or Twitter. What is it you love about alpha males?
Blurb:
Shapeshifter Brand Geirson was raised to rule the Broods of Fenrir, but he refused his birthright. Instead, he killed their brutal leader–his own father–and walked away.
For hundreds of years he’s avoided brood society, until a werewolf kills an innocent human woman and Brand finds himself dragged back into the violent politics of the shapeshifters. When the two brood women who mean the most to him come under threat, he must take up the throne and risk becoming the kind of vicious bastard his father was, or let the broods descend further into chaos–taking the friend he swore to protect and his lover with them.
Relevant Warnings: There is significant violence. One on-screen sex scene, though I wouldn't describe it as particularly graphic.
"Brand walked along the yellow crime scene tape that cordoned off the dilapidated building. His gaze wandered over the stained brick wall and broken windows. He remembered when the building was new, how modern it had seemed rising out of the barren landscape. The abandoned industrial complex south of downtown had deteriorated from a Denver landmark into a crumbling eyesore over the last several decades. Glare from the bright, early winter sun prevented him from seeing inside the dim structure.
The patrolman guarding the perimeter passed a long, appraising look over him. Brand nodded to the man and handed over his identification. The uniformed officer glanced at the badge. He gave Brand another once-over and frowned. “Private security? You’re not authorized to be in this area.”
Between his height and the presence of the wolf inside him, most humans found Brand intimidating. They would never be able to define exactly what bothered them, only a vague sense of strangeness. The more sensitive they were to the energies of the natural world, the harder he had to try to put them at ease. If the man in front of Brand had been a wolf, his hackles would have been raised."
