Harem Trials

The morning of the next day went as it usually would.

Elian ate breakfast with his sister before they both headed to different schools.

It was then that he realised something.

Edalyn goes to Ashthorn... There will be an Alpha there.

He watched her as she took a bite from her cereal, scrolling through her phone with the other hand.

Can I ask her to help me find them?

But how?

"Hey, sis." He said, trying to make his voice sound unsuspicious.

She looked up at him from her phone.

"I need you to do me a favour."

Her eyebrow raised at him.

"It's not anything weird, is it? I know you think you're a real man now because you did with your girlfriend last night, but I'm your sister."

"Wait what! N-no, you idiot. It's nothing like that."

Why would she even think of that?

And we're not real siblings anyway...

She spooned more cereal into her mouth.

"So, what is it."

Elian thought about how to broach the topic. How could he ask her to look out for a man who seems to be building a harem?

"Never mind." He said, after deciding it wasn't possible.

I'll leave it for now. If our paths are meant to cross then they will.

---

Elian was constantly on edge at school.

Not only because he was afraid that an alpha would arrive at any moment.

But also because of Alice.

He was used to being a complete loner at school, so when she had come up to him and given him a hug in front of one of her friends, it felt strange.

I guess I'll just have to get used to this.

The other boys of the school were staring at him as it happened and he heard whispers going around school about how a loser ended up with one of the hottest girls in his school.

But he didn't care; he had bigger problems to worry about.

---

Later that day, just before lunch, the students were required to partake in a physical activity since it was the start of a new term.

Many joined sports clubs as there were many to choose from.

But Elian had never been the most athletic. There wasn't a single sport that he excelled in, so he knew he wouldn't earn a spot in any of the teams.

This was why the school had a free-to-use gymnasium, filled with strengthening and cardio equipment.

Anyone who did not join a club had to spend their time there.

Elian made his way over, alone, and opened the door to the gymnasium.

It was empty, except for one person.

It was the girl that he had seen staring at him from the front of the class yesterday!

He still didn't know her name.

The girl noticed him enter, shooting him a glance before looking away.

She had short light blue hair that fell just past her face, and she wore glasses, giving her an innocent look.

Her body was slim, which was probably due to the time she spent on the treadmill. Yet she still had curves, just not as prominent as Alice's.

Elian walked around the gym, not knowing what to do. He hadn't been in there before and it felt awkward.

He decided to try the machines with a title on it that read. "Rowing Machine."

But no matter how many times he read the instructions, he couldn't figure out how to use it efficiently.

Is this meant to be so hard?

"You're using it wrong."

Huh?

Elian turned to see the blue-haired girl standing beside him.

I didn't even hear her get close.

She was wearing tight black shorts and a white shirt which clung to her skin from sweat.

He could see her pink bra beneath it.

She must have noticed him looking at her chest, so she crossed her arms in an attempt to cover them, but it only pressed them up, making them seem larger.

A red blush began to grow on her cheeks.

"You're using it wrong. You need to use your legs and back to help you pull, not just your arms."

Her voice was unsurprisingly soft and shy, even more than Alice's.

Alice had confidence. She knew she was pretty because all the boys in the school would tell her so. Everyone always complimented her face and body.

But this girl... She was most likely a loner like Elian herself. Far less popular than some of the other girls in Rosebury.

"Um, thanks." He said, confused as to why she was helping him. "What's your name."

"Emily. You're Elian."

So she already knows my name. Doesn't even need to ask, huh?

"Yep, that's me." He said with an awkward laugh.

The girl continued to look at him with a blushing face.

Elian wasn't sure if she just didn't know what to say, or had something on her mind that she didn't know how to express.

Bzztt

Saved by the bell!

"Sorry, I've got to get this." He said, scratching his head and pulling out his phone.

He appreciated the diversion from the awkward situation.

He checked his phone screen to see a notification from the Harem Trials.

[New Potential Harem Member: Emily Westfield. Complete the initiation to gain a power up]

Ah, I see. So that's why she's acting so strange.

He looked up at the girl, who was now taking a sip from her water.

She's.. attracted to me?

Bzzttt.

He looked down again at another notification.

[An Alpha has been slain. After 3 more casualties, the leaderboard will open]

Elian almost dropped his phone out of shock.

Another one?!

The weaker ones are being picked off. The game is getting serious...

Someone could come to attack me at any time.

I need to make sure that I'm ready.

He looked at Emily, who noticed that he seemed off edge about seomthing.

"Is something wrong?" She asked, an innocent worry on her face.

And from there, Elian knew what he had to do next.