Alpha is one of many books from the game Choices: Stories You Play.
In Pixelberry's first ever gender-of-choice werewolf story, in the main character discovers that their new fraternity is a (literal) pack of wolves. Can they awaken the beast within?
Alpha was released from October 13, 2023 to February 16, 2024 on VIP early access, and on November 24, 2023 for everyone. On February 12, 2024, it was confirmed that Alpha would have a sequel.
Alpha provides examples of:
- Alpha and Beta Wolves: Alluded to in the book's title, with a double-meaning twist that "Alpha" also refers to an alpha fraternity.
- Asshole Victim: In the finale of Book 1, Markus is killed by either Kala or Tal. Considering that he poisoned Kala, shot Channing, and tried to kill Tal, it's hard to feel bad for him. One dialogue option even has Tal say that they're glad he's dead and won't mourn him after what he did.
- Big Bad: Markus Barnes, Tal's former friend, who is responsible for targeting Alpha Tau and poisoning Kala. The end of the chapter where this is revealed has Markus vow to end the members of Alpha Tau, one by one.
- Big Damn Heroes: In the finale of Book 1, Kala arrives at the warehouse juts in time to stop Markus from killing Tal and Channing.
- Breaking Old Trends: Most new Choices stories become visible in the app around two weeks before release. Alpha is the first ever Choices book to become visible in the app a whole month before release.
- Cast Full of Gay: Asher and Cal are a couple, Lupe is a lesbian, Markus is attracted to Tal regardless of gender, Kala is attracted to Channing regardless of gender, Channing and Tal can be the same sex.
- Character Customization: As usual, the main character's gender is customizable. Channing, the leader of the pack and love interest, is also customizable in gender and appearance.
- Double-Meaning Title: "Alpha" refers to both Alpha and Beta Wolves and the Greek letter often used in fraternities (as is the case here with Alpha Tau).
- First-Episode Twist: The fraternity of Alpha Tau is a wolf pack!
- Foreshadowing: There are several hints of Markus being a werewolf hunter, such as insisting you help him spy on Alpha Tau and referring to the frat as "animals".
- Greater-Scope Villain: The final scene of Book 1 sets the werewolf hunter organization up to be this, as they were the ones who sent Markus after Alpha Tau, and they plan to send Markus' brother after them after he fails to take them down.
- Idiosyncratic Episode Naming: Each chapter has a One-Word Title that ends in "-ion".
- Incompatible Orientation: In Chapter 6, Markus tries to flirt with Lupe, who is, as Channing put it, "gayer than the day is long".
- Interface Spoiler: The description for Chapter 9 spoils the fact that Markus will be an antagonist, due to him publishing a compromising newspaper article that puts Alpha Tau at risk. This is notably more damning because Chapter 5 hadn't even been released at the time the description was visible.
- Wham Episode: Chapter 16. The Blood Moon is over and Tal has finally transformed into a werewolf!
