What makes a person "Alpha"?

Today I was asked to enter nominations for alphas in my favorite kind of literature--urban fantasy. It took some thought, but I have definite favorites and finally worked it into the list below:

 Jane Yellowrock/Beast (Faith Hunter)
Atticus (Iron Druid--Keven Hearn)
Acheron (Sherrilyn Kenyon)
Gin Blanco  (Elemental Assassin--Jennifer Estep)
Smoky--(Otherworld Series--Yasmin Galenorn)

But what really struck me was the comments from other nominators--for the most part female--who questioned and made excuses for choosing women alphas.

WOW, come on..REALLY? You read about kick-ass females, fighting demons (both real and mental), spinning katana swords, ordering big tough soldiers around and in general making plans and taking names when necessary. And you wonder if it's OKAY to name a female alpha?

Beast would cough a guttural roar in amusement and then knock your girly girlness to the ground! Jane would shake her head, snap her fingers and tell Bruiser to explain it to you...

Gin Blanco would look at you sadly, pull out a meat cleaver and whack up some yummy barbeque, then suddenly appear behind you ready to take out your spleen if necessary.

I DID name 3 of the 5 male alphas...but mainly because my favorite character in Iron Druid is Atticus...but even he knows when to bow to a goddess, and speaking of, Acheron is probably the most powerful character of the group IMHO, and he spent thousands of years saying "yes dear" to a goddess--and now to his wife. And Smoky...well, I think he's more alpha than his wife, Camille, but she has him wrapped around her finger with good sex and a deep need to protect her.  So, even the alpha males have strong female influences that make them who they are.

Never ever think that women cannot be Alpha. One of the strongest marriages I know is between two people---both Alphas at work--who manage to work together, each Alpha as needed. I'm the boss at work...and I know that somebody needs to make the plans, organize the situation, be the leader and be the one who takes the heat when something goes wrong. THAT is a good alpha! And women are just as good at it as men.

MEOW ya'll.

Now go vote before the end of March!

http://vampirebookclub.net/alpha-showdown-2013-nominations/comment-page-4/#comment-23073