It was no wonder Erin Xavier reacted this way.

From above, it looked like the three of them were just standing together. But after jumping down, the scene became much clearer: Nathan Lockwood was trying to take Zoe Pierce’s hand, while Chase Shaw had his arms wrapped tightly around her.

He had underestimated her.

’He’d thought she was, at best, just a pretty Omega. Incapable of making any waves without pheromones. But reality delivered a harsh slap in the face. Despite having no pheromones, she had somehow used some unknown trick to make both Nathan Lockwood and Chase Shaw willing to get close to her.’

Indeed, Erin Xavier had never seen Chase Shaw like this.

Even when he was being comforted by other Omegas, he would only let them place a hand on his wrist. The moment it was over, he would immediately pull away.

But now? Chase Shaw was actually hugging her.

And he refused to let go.

Erin Xavier’s lips curved into a smirk, his eyes scrutinizing Zoe Pierce.

"Nathan, what’s going on?" A steady, cold male voice spoke from behind them. But unlike the others, who first looked to Zoe Pierce, this newcomer went straight to Ethan Grant, who was lying on the ground.

The speaker was none other than Miles Sherman. He had met up with Erin Xavier along the way. But while Erin had immediately rushed over upon spotting the group, Miles had followed at a more measured pace.

Now, the entire team was assembled.

Nathan Lockwood quickly activated the check-in. With the team successfully reunited, they had officially advanced to the second round.

Seeing the indicator turn from red to green, Nathan Lockwood stood up. He glanced over at Chase Shaw, who still refused to let go, and his brow furrowed. "Chase Shaw’s spiritual power is running rampant. Zoe Pierce was comforting him, and he probably felt so comfortable that he won’t let go."

He tried to describe Chase Shaw’s actions as objectively as possible, but his words immediately drew Erin Xavier’s sharp attention.

"So comfortable?" His voice rose.

’It wasn’t like they hadn’t been comforted before. They all knew what it felt like.’

’But Erin Xavier knew Nathan Lockwood wasn’t the type to lie. Besides, there was no point in lying about something like this. Sooner or later, they would all need to be comforted.’

’Still, it was hard to imagine just how comfortable Chase Shaw must have been to cling to her like this, even in a delirious state.’

Miles Sherman’s gaze also fell upon Zoe Pierce, held in Chase Shaw’s embrace.

The man’s tall, powerful frame only served to accentuate her delicate petiteness.

She looked as if she hadn’t expected to have so many eyes on her. A faint blush colored her cheeks, and her small, cherry-like lips were pressed into a firm line. Her gaze darted about, as if she didn’t dare to meet theirs.

’Zoe Pierce was mortified. She’d never been in a situation like this—being held by one handsome man in front of several other ridiculously attractive ones.’

’And she couldn’t even break free.’

The heat in her cheeks continued to rise, but she did her best to maintain her composure.

But of course, someone just had to burst the bubble. Erin Xavier stood about a meter away. "Zoe Pierce, your face is awfully red."

Like rouge brushed across white jade. Even her earlobes were flushed crimson.

Zoe Pierce knew that trying to hide would only make her look guiltier. Her slender fingers clenched into fists. "Of course it is. If you were being held by an Omega who refused to let go, you’d be uncomfortable too."

Erin Xavier paused, looking her up and down as if seeing her for the first time. "You seem a lot bolder today than before."

’She actually dared to talk back to him. Before, she was always as meek as a doormat.’

"You know, I’ve never tried it—being held by an Omega who won’t let go," he said, raising an eyebrow at Zoe Pierce. "How about you give it a try?"

The words had barely left his mouth when Erin Xavier leaped several meters away. Zoe saw that where he had just been standing, the blades of grass had been neatly sliced in half.

"Miles! I almost didn’t dodge that!" Erin exclaimed from the sidelines, his previous composure gone, looking completely flustered.

Miles Sherman’s expression remained unchanged. He walked from Ethan Grant’s side to stand before Zoe Pierce. After a brief probe with his spiritual power, he said to her, "Thank you for your hard work. Sorry for the trouble with Chase Shaw."

The moment he used his spiritual power, he could feel the tension coiled in Chase Shaw and immediately understood the crux of the problem.

’Compared to Erin Xavier’s passive-aggressive taunts, Miles Sherman seemed like a completely normal person.’

’Or rather, of the entire team, Miles Sherman seemed to be the only normal one. As for the others, Zoe Pierce felt, they were all a little bit crazy.’

Spoken to so politely, even Zoe couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

She replied meekly, "It’s nothing."

Erin rolled his eyes from the sidelines.

Miles Sherman’s gaze shifted back to Nathan Lockwood. "Why didn’t you call for an instructor?"

He was referring to Ethan Grant. He had just examined him and knew that Ethan’s spiritual power rampage was extremely severe. Given Nathan Lockwood’s personality, he wouldn’t have shouldered such a troublesome burden.

Nathan Lockwood recounted what had happened. Only then did Erin Xavier and Miles Sherman learn just how much had occurred between Nathan and Zoe earlier.

Once the situation was clear, Miles Sherman nodded to Nathan Lockwood, then turned to Erin Xavier. "You, come with me."

Erin scrubbed a hand over his face and reluctantly followed.

"Miles," Erin said first, once the two of them had stepped aside.

Miles looked at him. Erin was the youngest on the team and by far the most mercurial. When he wanted to, his words could be as sweet as honey. But when he chose to be vicious, he could leave people so ashamed they wouldn’t dare show their faces.

"Erin, this is the joint exam." Miles had known Erin for over a decade and understood why he had such a personality, but he needed to make him understand that now was not the time for games.

"Do you want Zoe Pierce to get attached to you?" he asked bluntly, successfully provoking a reaction from Erin.

Erin’s baby face tightened. "Of course not."

’He hated all Omegas.’

"You know exactly why the other Omegas on our teams have left." This wasn’t the first time this had happened. Erin would flirt with all the Omegas, feigning interest, but none of them ever seemed to notice the mockery hidden in his eyes.

"If you really don’t want her getting close to you, then stop doing things that could be misunderstood."

’Like telling Zoe Pierce to hug him—he shouldn’t have said that.’

After the rebuke, some reassurance was necessary.

Miles continued, "Zoe Pierce’s Comfort Level is very high. You can mess around all you want later, but not now. At least, not until this month is over."

Erin was left speechless. Miles had made himself perfectly clear.

’Whether or not Zoe Pierce had ideas about them was another story, but he couldn’t be the one to lead her on.’

He felt deflated for a moment, but he couldn’t get angry at Miles. He knew Miles was just looking out for him. Shrugging, he let out a heavy sigh. "Got it."

Miles wasn’t convinced. Even though Erin had agreed for now, he knew a person’s character wasn’t formed in a day or two. Erin might think this way today, but he’d likely be of a different mind tomorrow.

Erin stuck his hands in his pockets and changed the subject. "Miles, I heard your family is planning to introduce you to an Omega?"

As the heir to the Sherman Family, any introduction would be a classic political marriage.

Erin had only heard rumors, but he knew Uncle Sherman planned to choose a candidate before Miles finished university. That way, once Miles started his political career, the alliance with his in-laws would naturally become political capital.

Miles glanced up at Erin and didn’t deny it. "Yeah."

’His father had already decided to introduce him to an Omega after the joint exam. He just hadn’t agreed to it yet.’