Ok, so ine thing that struck me while reading this latest chapter is how lonely it must be for Alphas without the old pack structures. They are basically in constant competition with other Alphas, even if they are not outwardly challenging each other. They can never be truly close to someone who understands all of their instincts, save for their sires maybe. And even that can be hit or miss like with Roy and Ollie
And maybe they believe they donāt need it, but then you see Clark and Dan sharing pack bonds and being in sync in ways that no other alphas are, there must be more than a few that start craving that closeness
Yes this!!!!! Just like how Alex emphasizes how omegas need to be around other omegas, the same thing is true for alphas. They help regulate each otherās instincts, which is critical for a healthy Pack, but also, as you recognized, for them as individuals too.
It must be very lonely when you canāt ever express affection and youāre constantly in competition with the people around you. Every now and then I write about how compelling Clark is to other alphas and how, when he finally decides to approve them as a Pack member, they damn near pass out from all the endorphins that follow. Roy keeps getting a bit of this here and there, and judging by his reaction to that, he might pass out when the full adoption goes through.
But yeah, we see a bunch of alpha characters with loneliness, though they express it in different ways: all the alphas that bothered Bruce and Lex at the gala in ASOH (except for one of those alphasā sires who still greeted Lex the old fashioned / Pack way), the alpha that hit on Roy, Joker, the alpha that beat the shit out of Lex, etc. the common thread is bluster and challenges. They feel they need to prove their worth because that praise of respect isnāt coming from anywhere else. And then if it does work, they spend time convincing themselves that the small family life is what they want, and that the ruts/heats arenāt so bad, etc. when all of those things massively improve in a Pack environment.
Thereās a lot of reciprocal and reflected instincts for the pack alphas. One concern is also anotherās concern. Physical touch is so important, as is scent. Dan feels just as devoted to protecting Bruce while pregnant than he would with Lex. Clark is equally as frustrated and soft with Lex even though, in the outside world, Dan shouldāve been at his throat if he even got close to Lex.
I think Royās POV has really emphasized that. He can clearly tell when/where Ollie was hurting or avoiding his instincts. But he hasnāt quite fully made that leap to āa Pack bond would helpā because maybe the Wayne-Kent Pack is a fluke, but even if it isnāt, itās not like heāll ever have a place in it.
Ollie seems like the kind of person who would actually derive a lot of benefit from a pack environment, but that means admitting to his own instincts and fears, whatever trauma is holding him back from acknowledging anyoneās dynamic. Dan and Clark could regulate him, but it would take time. I donāt think heād submit to Clark as Pack Alpha for a very, very long time. And if Roy is there? All those protective alpha instincts heās pretending donāt exist come out twisted, and suddenly thatās HIS kid and donāt look at him like that, they donāt need anyone else, ROY doesnāt need anyone elseā¦
