Alpha Showdown 2015 Round 6: Curran vs. Simon

This is going to be a good match. Curran from Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series is a past champion of the Alpha Showdown. Simon, from Anne Bishop’s The Others novels, made the battle last year, but wasn’t quite enough of an alpha at the time. Those who nominated him this year say it’s time to recognize the wolf shifter. Can he beat the lion?

You decide.

We’ve lined up excellent bloggers to fill you in on why each alpha deserves to advance. Read the pitches, and then make the call.

CURRAN

You know him from: Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
First appeared in: Magic Bites (VBC Review | Amazon)
Supernatural status: Shifter, Werelion

Championed by: Kathy F. from Stellar Four

At this point, it seems laughable that I have to write about Curran’s qualifications as biggest alpha in the G-D Supernatural Fantasy Universe. Does this former winner and multiple nominee need more than “It’s Curran, whose roar soils the undies of every adversary?”

All right, perhaps you require more convincing. This is the badass that united all of the shifters in magic-torn Atlanta into a Pack so strong the other biggest badass in this world sees Curran as a threat to be removed. He’s ripped the heads off gods, gone claw to claw with rogue vampires, and attended more boring meetings and weddings than a person should have to bear. His roar makes the primitive part of your brain scream “Run away!” even though you know by the time he’s seen you, it’s too late.

Being an alpha is so much more than the ability to rip your opponent to shreds in a nanosecond. There is the sense of responsibility to others, reputation for action, a commanding presence that makes everyone ask “how high” when he says “jump.” We’ve seen Curran’s protective nature spread from his Pack to his new family with Kate, and on to the whole city of Atlanta. That’s right, his alpha-ness is growing as the series progresses and he does it all without being a raging douchecanoe.

SIMON WOLFGARD

You know him from: The Others Series by Anne Bishop
First appeared in: Written in Red (VBC Review | SmexyBooks Review | Amazon)
Supernatural status: Alpha. Wolf Shape Shifter. Leader of the Lakeside Courtyard. Able to selectively shift body parts. Thinks humans taste good.

Championed by: Tori Benson from SmexyBooks, Heroes & Heartbreakers, and RT Book Reviews Magazine | @smexys_sidekick

Everyone wants to be king of the mountain, but time has shown again and again that only the strongest, fiercest, smartest, most calculating, protective, and the handsomest can be top dog. Simon Wolfgard is the top alpha dog of this pile. The Alpha of the Lakeside Courtyard, Simon is a wolf and rules his kingdom with a razor sharp mind that matches his claws and teeth. He doesn’t need magic or a sidekick to keep his people in line…it’s all in his thousand yard stare and his “eat first and ask questions later” attitude.

“We don’t let humans live in our part of the courtyard because we like you. We let you live here because you can be useful, and you’ve invented things that we like having. If it wasn’t for that, you’d all be nothing but meat.”

Simon is wolf first and foremost; his humanity only a skin he designs to wear in order to deal with the humans. He looks at the world and its inhabitants through the eyes of a predator and have no moral qualms with making you the weekly special at the local butcher shop if you get on his bad side.

“See something you like?”
“I see a pack of two-legged nuisances.”
“Hmmm. I see take out.”

Simon is extremely attractive with a dry wit despite his surly grumpy attitude. Strong, commanding, and completely untamed; he is the ultimate alpha through and through. He doesn’t like humans but he will use them in any and all ways in order to make the world a better place for his pack and all shifters. He demands complete obedience and respect. Any attempts to usurp his authority is dealt with swiftly and painfully. Protective to the ninth degree, once Simon accepts you, you belong to him forever and he will fight to the death (usually his opponents death) to ensure nothing and no one hurts you. Even if it means taking on his own pack.

“I’m not some human you can intimidate. And I’m not a pup anymore. You don’t tell me what to do. NO ONE tells me what to do.”

Though he’s not one for romance as we know it, remember he’s a wolf first, he is willing to try for someone that speaks to the man and the beast. Games of the heart make no sense to him and forget about human emotions. He won’t, or maybe can’t, understand the appeal of a partner beyond physical release. But, as with any wild beast, with enough patience and good intentions, you can tame and befriend them until a love is born that is unbreakable.

“…he didn’t mind feeling the weight of her or her breath ruffling his fur or being surrounded by the comforting of her scent.”

Unlike some so-called alphas, Simon will never give you reason to question him or yourself. He tells you like it is and you can trust him to never lie, cheat, or give you reason to be jealous. His honesty is both refreshing and a bit disconcerting. Simon will always have your back because once you’re pack…there is no going back.

VOTE!

Who are you putting your money on: the lion or the wolf?

At the request of last year’s voters, we’re going back to traditional polls for the voting, but keep reading for your chance to win awesome books. Your to-be-read pile could always use more. Trust us.

WIN!

Participating in the Alpha Showdown is all about fun, and free books totally lead to fun, right? We hope you’ll find lots of great new reads during the Showdown, and to help that along, we’re giving away some stellar reads.

With Round 6 we have a copy of Karen Miller’s The Falcon Throne up for grabs. Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway