The Beta Dominates Alphas

Kestrelwasabeta,andanaggressiveonethatmostfolksdidn'tlikemuch.TheEmpirehadpickedafuturehusbandforher.Thisguywasprettymuchperfect:bornintoahigh-classfamily,good-looking,rich,nice,andtheenvyofeveryonearound.Peoplewerequicktostartwhispering.“Whydidsuchagreatguyendupwithher?Shecan'tevenmaketearightandshebarelypassedhercookingclass.”“Hewon'tbeabletoputupwithherforlong.”“Right,theirlovestoryisatrainwreckwaitingtohappen.”Hearingthisstuffoverandover,Kestrelstartedtothinkthatsheandherguy,Tarian,weredoomedfromthestart.So,whenTarianshowedupwithasweetandprettygirl,Kestrelpulledoffherengagementringandtosseditintothegutter.Fromthatmoment,Kestrellivedfreeandhappy,likeabirdsoaringinthesky,afishswimminginthewideocean.Butafewyearsintohereasy-goinglife,ataroyalshindig,Tariancorneredher.Hiseyeswereallred,andheconfessedthathewassorryforeverythingandthathecouldn'tstopthinkingabouther.ButKestrel,wildasever,wasn'tinterestedingoingbacktoheroldlife.Tarianturnedwhite,grittedhisteethandsaid,“Idon'tcarewhatyou'relike,andIcanhandleyourshortcomings.Youwon'tfindamoreunderstandingalphathanme.”“Well,Ialreadyhaveanewalpha.”Tototallyshakehimoff,Kestrelmadeupanameonthespot.Shequicklythoughtofallthealphasshe'dmetonthebattlefieldovertheyears,andchosethenameofabuddyshewastightwith,guessinghewouldn'tmind.“He'sagoodlistener,andwe'reaperfectfit.Plus,hereallylikesmeanddoesn'tcareaboutmymistakes.”Rightafterabummed-outTariantookoff,Kestrelturnedaroundandsmackedrightintotheguyshe'djustmadeup.Thisguy,arealwarherowho'dtakendowntonsofenemies,turnedabitpink,lookedaway,andmuttered,“You...whendidyoufigureoutthatIhaveacrushonyou?”