I recently spent two weeks with my grandparents in beautiful Montreal, Quebec. Grandma is dying and our whole family went there for her 80th birthday. Juding by pictures of my Grandma when she was young, she definitely was an extremely attractive woman.

Since they live in Montreal, I didn't grow up much knowing them so my relationship with them is distant. The entire two weeks was spent game & eletronics free save for checking my cell once in awhile for missed calls.

My grandma & grandfather could be classified as alcoholics. He brews his own strong wine (think 15% alcohol wine) and they both drink 1-3 bottles per day plus or minus other stuff.

One night it was revealed in conversation with Grandma that around the time she met my Grandfather, there had been this beta orbiter who she described would have "literally done anything for her" and who was always around & professed his undying love for her on many occasions. She said she felt sorry for him & sometimes wondered if she should have married him instead (almost out of pity). She said that had she married him, she could have easily made all decisions on anything at any time. He would often buy her things.

He was apparently so devoted to her, that years later at a "reunion" type party for the military unit my grandparents were attached to, she again saw this particular beta. After a couple drinks, the Beta came over and in private conversations revealed he was still deeply in love with her, probably hoping she would say the same. Suffice to say she shut him down.

My Grandfather is what you could call an Alpha. The only problem is he's an abusive alcoholic (non-physical) and rarely shows any beta qualities. Despite these serious flaws, his Alpha qualities were enough to attract Grandma and keep her loyal.

This all happened in the 1940's and beyond, so don't think "Alpha" is any kind of new concept. "Alpha" in the old days & older was generally just being a Man. Back then most Men went out of their way to make a woman comfortable or to hear their input, but maintained the "Captain" status and flexed their authority & manliness in the final decision.