M.J. Fields | The Evolution of Alpha Males

I'm sitting at my desk on a Sunday morning. It’s quiet for a Sunday. It’s abnormal, a little eerie. My husband and daughter happen to be doing some father-daughter bonding at a Hair Scrambler. A ‘hair scrambler,’ you ask? That’s a dirt bike race through the woods. It’s bumpy, wooded, dangerous, and full of macho men competing to be Top Dog—which, in case you were wondering, is the man who maintains the highest speed throughout the race.

Now you’re probably wondering what the hell am I doing here, at home, all by myself?

Good question, you. Oh, right. I am writing romance article about Alpha males, just like the ones riding through the woods at breakneck speeds. But this shouldn’t be as complicated. I mean, it’s fictional, right? Plus, I have written almost eighteen books full of Alpha hotness.

And yet, the struggle continues. Because the tricky part is, no two Top Dogs arrive at their position using the same route. And true, dyed-in-the-wool, Grade-A, authentic Alphas—the kind I like to write about—are as mysterious as they are irresistible.

So why do we love them when they continue to frustrate us? I’ll give you a few reasons. A true alpha male is not self-absorbed, he is self-aware. He is also self-motivated, a constant champion, and assertive but not always aggressive in everyday circumstances. But when he’s challenged, he can definitely hold his own, and win. He is aware of his shortcomings, and dedicates himself to overcoming them. He doesn’t retreat under stress, he stands stronger. And of course, he is in great physical form and very appealing to the eye.

An authentic Alpha doesn’t have to come from money, or hold an Ivy League degree. He doesn’t have to be military, or law enforcement, or an underground MMA fighter. His family and economic background have little to do with who he has become, because he is almost always a self-made man. Hell, he could even be a bartender, a rock star, or a tattooed, pierced, f***up who constantly fights his true Alpha urges.

The point I’m getting at here is that Alphas are, at their core, an evolutionary phenomenon. Darwinism and all that. Survival of the fittest and hottest. When the going gets tough ... well, you get the idea.

Now that we know what we are dealing with, let’s talk about how I help my Alphas come to life on the page.

Evolution of Alpha

In my writing, the Alpha is always aware of his need to be a leader. Something is missing in his world and in his mind, he’s the only one who can fill that void. In other words, unlike most of us, the Alpha male understands his own needs and desires and seeks to fulfill them rather than waiting for others to do so. Depending on the character, this knowledge can come about through nature, nurture, or the lack of nurture.

The first Alpha character I ever wrote was Lucas Links, a high school senior. Not the ‘typical’ Alpha, by any stretch. To all outward appearances, Lucas’s life appears perfect. He lives every eighteen-year-old boy’s wildest fantasies. He excels academically and is a gifted athlete. He is destined to become great. He is, in what I like to call, his ESA, or early stages of Alpha-ness. In the beginning, he loves the power of popularity and everything it brings him. He goes through sexual partners like my favorite Voice judge went through models. (Don’t hate; I love that sexy tattooed man, like really love him, and I don’t judge him.) Like that sexy rock star, Lucas just hadn’t found his ‘right one’ yet. But when he does, the ESA phase has to end. Even if they don’t realize why yet, their behavior starts to change.

Next we have our Intermediate Alpha phase, or IA. Here, our Alpha has focused on why he feels the need to conquer, dominate, and control. He starts looking deeper, wanting more. He has found a woman he is intrigued by, maybe because she’s a challenge, or because she makes him feel differently about himself. Sex becomes less about self-satisfaction and more about self-discovery. He has an instinct to be monogamous for maybe the first time in his Alpha existence. In my writing, this is a ‘Man of Steel.’ When he falls, he falls hard. But instead of weakening him, it opens up the door to the next evolutionary Alpha phase—he becomes MA.

An MA—or Master Alpha—is much more mature, and has finally come to view the woman in his life differently. He wants a woman who is a partner, one who shares his values, and—gasp!—he is even willing to allow her to teach him something every now and again. Now that he’s fully evolved, he wants a life based on love, family, shared experiences, and meaning. Everything he does, he does to provide for the ones he cares about the most.

My newest book, ABE: Ties of Steel releases on October 28th. Much like my Alphas, I’ve watched myself evolve as a writer, and I’m not ashamed to say that this book is the one I’m most proud of thus far. Abe is a perfect mix of Alpha and modern man. He is unwavering in what he desires—both in his bedroom and his life. I have a feeling you’re going to love him almost as much as I do.

And stay tuned for the next book in the Ties of Steel series, DOMINIC! Visit my website to find out more.

Comment below to be entered to win a signed paperback copy of ABE, a signed eBook, and a Swoon Romance bracelet!