Some other ways that may get what you want:

• Data::Alias
• Make $alpha_state a tied object, updating $hash{alpha}{state} when it's STOREd.
• Make $hash{alpha}{state} a tied object that retrieves the value of $alpha_state when FETCHed.
• Make %{$hash{alpha}} a tied hash.
• Just use $alpha_state where you'd would use $hash{alpha}{state}. Saves typing! ;-)