Alpha House: Turning Tides

by NBCK99

Alpha House, the popular reality show sponsored by Augment Enterprises, has a new spinoff! Watch contestants grapple with changes and increasing attraction as they compete in challenges, spin the wheel, and vie for the big prize.

A wide camera shot shows a single black SUV turning off of a main road and past a sign bearing the instantly recognizable “Augment Enterprises” logo. The shot switches to inside the vehicle, showing the passenger—a heavily muscled man with a pale face and dark, almost black hair wearing an army green t-shirt that clings to his shoulders, pecs, and arms. A chyron appears at the bottom of the screen: TYLER 28, gym teacher.

“This is gonna be easy money,” the man says in exactly the tone the audience would expect based on his appearance and occupation. “They can do whatever they want to me. I’m not kissing a dude.”

The shot switches to the interior of an identical vehicle. The passenger has tousled blond hair, bright blue eyes, and a round face. A chyron reads: BRADLEY 21, college student. “Well, yeah, being the youngest may be tough,” he admits. “It’s a little intimidating. But it’s a new experience for all of us. I mean, do any of us really know what we’re getting into?” He runs a hand through his hair. “Why am I doing it? Well, for the money, of course. I mean, a quarter of a million is no joke. I’d do just about anything for that. Even… this.”

Inside another SUV, a wiry Asian man flashes a grin. The chyron reads: SAI 26 bartender. “Yeah, I flirt with guys. I work at a gay bar. The tips are way better than the sports bar I used to work at. All I have to do is tell the guys they’re cute and act like I want them to take me home when they say I’m hot. Oh, and on the second Saturday of the month, the bartenders don’t wear shirts. I don’t mind being ogled. It doesn’t mean anything to me. It’s flattering.” He pauses to think. “I guess it’ll be weird if it does start mattering to me. Like, if I start actually wanting them to flirt with me for more than just tips. But hey, I know all the guys who go to that bar will be watching this show. That’ll make my tips go through the roof. I have to win it for the boys at the bar.”

A brief montage shows Bradley, Tyler, Sai, and four other unnamed men—a tall man with dark hair and a sprinkling of gray in his neatly trimmed beard, a guy with several piercings and hair dyed black with a crimson streak, a massive stocky man, and a nondescript man with chocolate brown hair—getting out of their SUVs and entering an Augment Enterprises facility. As each man walks through the hallways, he passes several handsome men wearing scrubs or lab coats.

The next shot shows the nondescript man settling into a chair in a small room. He’s moderately attractive, but he shrinks into himself, not projecting much of any energy toward the camera. His chyron reads: CHRIS 25, DMV clerk.

“I must be out of my mind,” he confesses. “My friends all think I’m crazy for doing this. My girlfriend—my ex, I mean—it’s complicated—she’s really mad at me. But I don’t think there’s a real chance for me to get back together with her anyway. I’m just not confident enough for her. I think this experience will be good for me. I’m gonna have to find some confidence if I want a chance at winning, right? And after it’s all said and done, I doubt my chances with girls will be any worse than they already are.” He laughs awkwardly. “Maybe I’ll find a boyfriend instead.”

Suddenly, the screen shows a beach. The camera zooms in on a caramel-skinned athletic man wearing only flip flops and an orange speedo. He’s obviously used to staring into a camera with a cocky, flirtatious lopsided grin. He gets his own chyron, which reads: DANTE KING, host, entrepreneur, online “model.” “This is a game of flirtation, manipulation, dominance, and of course, transformation,” Dante intones. “When my good friend and colleague Jack Cannon offered me a chance to host my own version of his show, I just couldn’t resist. But this is no ordinary season of Alpha House. There will be several twists and turns throughout the season, but the first one starts right now. All of these contestants are straight.”

The scene switches back to the small room at the Augment Enterprises facility. The man with the graying beard sits calmly as a younger man preps a syringe behind him. His chyron reads: WARREN 42, nurse. His appearance is carefully curated, and his green eyes have a piercing quality, but he also gives off a laid-back “dad” charm. He’s clearly very fit underneath his blue fitted polo.

“My son is the one who suggested I apply for this,” Warren explains. “I’m a single dad, you know. We could really use the money. My kid came out recently. I’m doing everything I can to support him. This isn’t exactly the most orthodox way to show support…” he chuckles nervously. “But whatever happens to me, I hope it will just help me understand my son more.” He chuckles again, blushing a little. “Uh, I’m not sure how to put this politely, but… Dante King’s online content apparently played a big role in my son’s self-discovery.”

The scene returns to the beach. The camera angle turns to reveal that Dante King is standing in front of a luxury beachfront villa. “Our contestants may be straight, but they won’t be for long. Right now, each man is at an Augment Enterprises facility receiving a little push in the necessary direction. Each was made aware that this augmentation is a prerequisite for coming to this beautiful villa and competing. This augmentation simply… opens some valves, allowing for the possibility of curiosity and attraction toward men. How will each man handle his new feelings? What will happen when they receive new augmentations that make them more attractive—or attracted—to their housemates? Find out on… Alpha House: Turning Tides!”

The title card overlays the beachscape. The show cuts to commercials for Augment Enterprises penis enhancement, a sexy underwear brand, and a gay cruise.

The show comes back to the Augment Enterprises facility, with a new man sitting in the small room. This one is incredibly handsome and wears a white tank top with the clear intent of showing off his muscles. He has sharp bone structure, deep brown eyes, and carefully coifed hair. The chyron reads: ANDRE 24, fitness influencer.

“I’ve been accused of queerbaiting just because I like showing off and have a lot of gay fans,” he says. The technician inserts the syringe. “Well, if this stuff works, they’ll have to lay off the claims. It can’t be baiting if I’m really into guys, right? Honestly, I don’t mind the idea of being into guys. I just happen to not be.” He gets momentarily distracted as the technician walks away. “Damn, that is weird,” he murmurs. “I have never checked out a guy’s ass before.” He pauses, lost in thought. “Okay, so I mostly just did this to gain more followers and deal with the queerbaiting thing, but I’m starting to think this will be a lot more complicated than I realized.”

A montage shows the men walking back through the hallways. Several shoot obvious glances at the handsome facility workers as they pass by. Sai’s head swivels as he passes a muscular man whose pecs push into his scrubs. At the end of the montage, the camera lingers on the man with piercings and dyed hair, who seems particularly distracted. It cuts to him in his SUV. He has a long, angular face. His appearance is punctuated by gauges, a barbell in one ear, and an eyebrow piercing. A chyron reads: HARRISON 24, delivery driver.

“That was, like, really fast-acting,” he tells the camera. “I don’t know what I was expecting, but I have never noticed a dude like that before. I came here to stir shit up, but it looks like the chaos is already starting, and I haven’t even gotten to the house yet.” He visibly gathers himself. “But hey, I have a plan, and I just can’t let myself get distracted. I’m a wild guy, and I’ve got tons of confidence. I’ll charm the hell out of whoever I have to to win.”

One by one, the SUVs deposit the men outside the villa. The camera shows different ones sizing each other up. Out of the first few, Tyler is taller and overall larger than any of the others. When Andre arrives, Tyler’s eyes narrow. In a confessional, Tyler says, “I’ve seen that guy’s intsa. He’ll be competition for sure. But I’m still bigger than that pretty boy. He may be cute, but…” He trails off, his eyes widening as he realizes what he just said.

Back at the beach, Warren greets everyone with a handshake and a smile. He makes a self-deprecating joke about obviously being the oldest. Sai enthusiastically greets Bradley and Chris, who are both wide-eyed. Sai effortlessly controls the conversation. In a confessional, Bradley tells the camera, “These guys are all so good-looking. I’m only just starting to think of guys like that, so I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed. I’m just trying to say hello and make small talk and pretend I’m not checking them all out.”

Another figure exits an SUV. It’s an incredibly tall, stocky man who has so far only been shown briefly in montages. He has short auburn hair and is wearing a flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up over arms that rival Tyler’s. The shirt barely fits over his wide torso. He wears a curious, reserved expression. A chyron reads: RORY 29, farmer.

The scene shifts to Rory’s confessional where he sits with the ocean behind him. “I always wanted to go on a reality show, but I don’t get away from the farm too much.” He’s soft-spoken, but he has a rich, gravelly voice. “The premise is pretty, uh, different, but I don’t really mind. There’s this hippie farm down the way from me, and I chat with the folks from there when we set up our stalls at the farmer’s market. I always tell them how hard it is to find a girl out in the middle of nowhere, and they always say there are plenty of bears in the city who would date me in a heartbeat. They had to explain what a bear is. That’s, uh, well, it’s different.” He looks down at his body, seemly seeing himself in a new light. “But I guess maybe I can understand.

“Why do I want to win? Well, honestly, I love the farm, but I want to move, start over. Expand my horizons. And if expanding horizons means changing in other ways… well, I guess I’ll just see what happens.”

On the beach, Rory stands far taller than the others. He’s even a couple inches taller than Tyler, which clearly annoys the latter. The men spend some more time getting to know each other, their personalities meshing or clashing. Eventually, Dante King dramatically steps out of the villa to greet them. All attention immediately goes to him.

A few confessionals, all set on a nondescript spot on the beach with the ocean in the background, detail contestants’ reactions to their host.

“Damn,” Harrison says. “Normally I’d make a joke about a dude in a speedo, but I can’t stop looking at—what’s it called, the lines that go down from the hips, pointing down to the junk?” A muffled producer’s voice suggests something. “Yeah, his Adonis belt. I must be staring like an idiot.”

Chris tells the camera, “I knew he was objectively hot, but… wow. Seeing him in person after whatever they gave me at Augment Enterprises, it makes my brain short-circuit.”

Warren wears a bemused smile. “Let’s just say I have a better understanding now of how Dante King influenced my son’s awakening. That smirk alone is so… well, sexy.”

On the beach, Dante is in full reality-show host mode. “Welcome to Alpha House: Turning Tides!” he calls out. This earns some cheers from the contestants. “The eight of you will be competing for a quarter of a million dollars, courtesy of Augment Enterprises. I’ll explain the rules soon, but there’s one bit of housekeeping to do first. This time, there are actually nine contestants.” The men are all visibly shocked. “The final player should be arriving any minute now…” A camera shot shows an SUV pulling up near the villa. “And there he is now!” The SUV door opens. Gasps and shouts can be heard. The show cuts to commercial.

The show returns, rehashing Dante King’s announcement. The SUV door opens, and a lean, dark, sharply dressed man steps out. His purple dress shirt and blazer make him look very overdressed for the beach. His black hair is short and neatly styled, and his shrewd deep brown eyes survey the others. His chyron reads:

MARCUS 30, reality star, marketing manager. The camera pans over, and some of the other contestants obviously recognize him. It cuts to Marcus’s confessional.

“Yeah, I was the runner-up on Big Brother 46, and I won an episode of Man Vs. Machine. I’m known for my cutthroat strategy and my ability to stay calm under pressure. It’s useful in my regular job in marketing too. I’ll analyze each contestant and figure out exactly how to exploit him. People say I’ll do anything to win. After that shot I got at Augment Enterprises, I guess they’re right.”

Dante officially introduces the final contestant to the group and tells them all they can head into the villa and check it out. A brief confessional shows Chris saying he watches both Big Brother and Man Vs. Machine and is very intimidated by Marcus. At the villa, the guys ooh and aah over all the details. Outside, there’s a large porch with lounge chairs, a grill, a fire pit, and a hot tub. Andre jokes that he’s going to basically live in the hot tub. Inside, there’s a huge foyer, two large common areas, a spacious kitchen, and eight bedrooms. With nine players, there’s some minor drama over who has to share a room.

Several contestants point out in confessionals that their sudden interest in men, however small, could make sharing a room a liability depending on how the rules shake out. Tyler quickly attempts to establish himself as the alpha and outright refuses the shared room. Warren is jovial and paternal but somehow manages to keep his name out of the conversation. Chris is nervous and seems like he’ll get pushed into it, but Harrison and Bradley prove to be the most laid back and both volunteer.

Harrison and Bradley are a study in visual contrasts as they settle into their room. Bradley is boyish with untamed golden blond hair and casual clothes in pale colors. Harrison is all hard edges with his piercings, black and crimson hair, and black clothes. But they bond over being two of the younger contestants, and Harrison turns out to be much more relaxed than his persona would suggest.

The other contestants settle into their rooms, and a few check in on their housemates and start conversations. Sai quickly establishes a rapport with Andre. He jokes that they both make their living off of gay guys. They pointedly avoid looking straight at each other very much. In a confessional, Andre admits that Sai is very attractive. The shot immediately cuts to Sai telling the camera that he can understand why gay guys would subscribe to Andre’s channel.

Dante gathers everyone on the patio. It’s finally time to reveal the rules and stakes. “As you all know,” Dante tells the group, “you are playing for a quarter of a million dollars. However…” He lets the word linger. “That is only part of the prize package!” The players all perk up. “The total prize package, courtesy of Augment Enterprises, is worth $400,000! On top of $250,000 cash, the winner will be able to craft a customized augmentation package for themselves worth up to $150,000.”

The men are obviously shocked and thrilled. Andre tells the camera, “I was already planning to use some of my winnings on an augmentation or two. Now, if I win, I can really tweak my looks to have my dream body.” He flexes an arm. “I mean, I’m already pretty close.”

Bradley’s mouth hangs open in his confessional. “I can pick my own augmentations? I was not expecting that. At all.”

Tyler is stone-faced in his confessional, a comical contrast to the others. “Obviously when I win, I’ll use the augmentation to turn myself totally straight again.”

In the common room, Dante continues. “So how will you win the money and augmentation package? The answer? Don’t give into temptation. Or alternatively, strategically tempt your housemates. Starting now, each of you has 100 points. Every morning, you will spin the augmentation wheel, which can make you more tempting or more susceptible to temptation. Give into temptation, and you’ll lose points.

“Prolonged sensual touch will lose you 5 points.” A chart appears on the right side of the screen, listing point deductions as Dante explains them. “A kiss costs 10 points. A full-on make-out session costs 15 points. Getting naked for a fellow contestant costs 15 points. Anything that ends in ‘job’ costs 25 points for the giver—and 10 points for the receiver. Full-on intercourse costs 30 points. Hit zero, and you’re out of the game.

“Every afternoon, you’ll face a challenge, and these challenges will have important consequences. Winners and losers may earn or lose points, or they may be sent to the winners’ and losers’ wheels. These special wheels have unique augmentations that will help or hinder you in your quest to keep your points and take away points from your competitors.”

Once again, confessionals offer various reactions from the contestants.

Chris asks, “What are these challenges going to be? I’m not exactly the most physical guy, so I feel like I’m automatically at a disadvantage.”

Warren is thoughtful. “Alpha House is about how you interact with the group, so I’m betting there will be team challenges. I can be a leader or a follower depending on what the situation calls for, so I think I’ll definitely make any team stronger.”

Marcus is smug. “Considering my experience, challenges are my last concern. This won’t be my first time doing every random task imaginable in front of a camera.”

In the house, Dante finishes his little speech. “All right, everyone. Have some dinner. Get to know each other. Have a good sleep. Because in the morning, you’ll face the augmentation wheel for the first time, and that’s when the game really begins.”

The audience sees brief flashes of the evening. The guys make dinner, with Warren manning the grill and Andre making a healthy side dish in the kitchen. Sai makes mocktails for everyone. In a confessional, he expresses disappointment that there’s no alcohol in the house, but he understands the reasoning. The guys will all need their heads on straight to deal with the upcoming augmentations.

As the cameras show snippets of interactions, confessionals take the temperature of the atmosphere. Chris is very nervous about the augmentation wheel. Rory takes a deep breath and says things are about to get real. Marcus intones, “Let the games begin.” There’s a shot of each man taking off his shirt as he gets ready for bed before the show fades to commercial.

After the break, the show returns with a shot of an empty common room with two new additions—the augmentation wheel and a smaller wheel with alternating +1’s and +2’s. Bradley and Harrison sleepily walk into the room wearing pajama pants and t-shirts and stop dead in their tracks. Bradley whispers, “There it is.” Harrison gathers himself and walks closer to inspect the wheel. It’s split into four quarters.

“Okay,” Harrison says, “We’ve got… Male Attraction, Pheromones, Libido, and Charisma.” He turns to Bradley. “So I guess we’re all getting one of these today.” Bradley nods silently, seemingly lost in thought.

Tyler, Andre, and Rory come into the room and check out the wheels. All three are wearing athletic shorts and tank tops that show off their muscular builds. It’s a sharp contrast to the leaner men in their looser outfits. Tyler wonders aloud, “What does ‘Pheromones’ do?”

Andre answers, “Probably make you smell sexy or something.”

Tyler looks alarmed, but then the wheels start turning. In a confessional, he says, “If the other guys want to do me, I can make them lose points left and right. As long as I stay in control, I’ll be fine.”

Marcus and Sai enter and examine the wheels, and Marcus’s confessional echoes Tyler’s thoughts. “Pheromones would be helpful. If you’re sending out automatic hormonal signals, it might scramble the other guys’ heads. Charisma is obviously a bonus. Not sure how they’ll alter the brain chemistry to make that happen, but Augment Enterprises knows what they’re doing. Libido and male attraction are the dangerous ones. If those get increased too much, you won’t be able to play with a clear head.”

Chris and Warren round out the group, in in similar outfits to Bradley and Harrison. Chris murmurs that he hopes he spins Charisma. Warren is quiet and thoughtful. The contestants gather on one side of the room, and Dante King saunters through the doorway wearing a pair of very short khaki shorts and an unbuttoned linen shirt, showing off his sculpted abs and chest. He has a Cheshire cat grin on his face. “Gentlemen, it’s time for your first spin!”

In Alpha House tradition, Dante calls contestants in order of last name. None of the players have revealed that information, so no one’s sure what order they’ll be going in. Bradley is called first. Dante directs him to stand between the wheels and spin one with each arm. Bradley holds his breath as the wheel spins.

The camera zooms in on the augmentation wheel as it slows down. Dante announces, “Male Attraction, Plus Two!” Bradley exhales, eyes wide. Tyler spins next. Dante intones, “Pheromones, Plus One!” Tyler fist pumps and hisses, “Yes!” Chris is called up next, and the camera lingers on his worried face as he spins and waits. He duplicates Bradley’s results. “Male Attraction, Plus Two!” Chris visibly wilts, shoulders sagging.

In a confessional, Chris looks distressed. “I am not ready for this. I was already… I mean—” He stops and takes a breath. “Okay, so maybe I wasn’t a hundred percent sure I was straight before I came here. I mean, I’m into girls. It’s just… I’ve always wondered. But I barely have the confidence to flirt with a girl, let alone tell a guy I want to experiment. I thought I could come here and see what happens. But extra attraction right off the bat? Why couldn’t I have gotten charisma?”

The rest of the spins are shown as a montage. Marcus gets Charisma, +1. He smirks, and some of the others look a little nervous. Sai spins Pheromones, +2. His grin widens. Rory gets Charisma, +2. His eyebrows raise. Warren gets Charisma, +1. Andre spins Pheromones, +1. Harrison spins Libido, +1.

“How am I the only one who lands on Libido?” Harrison asks in a confessional. “I’m not gonna tell the other players this, but I’ve always had an above average sex drive. This could turn into a huge disadvantage if I start feeling more attracted to the other guys. At least it’s only plus one, I guess.”

Dante oversees the delivery of the augmentations, and then he leaves the contestants to their own devices. “Meet me outside after lunch for your first challenge,” he tells them. “Oh, and you’ll really want to win it. After the challenge, you’ll be introduced to the winners’ and losers’ wheels.” On that note, he saunters out the way he came in. The camera lingers on his ass as he leaves.

The next scene cuts between morning activities and a series of confessionals. Marcus tells the camera that he’s used to analyzing the flow of conversation, and he can tell that his instincts and persuasive abilities are heightened. Rory chats with Bradley and Harrison, suddenly seeming more assertive than before. Bradley’s gaze keeps drifting to Rory’s chest, shoulders, and arms.

Sai and Andre continue their quickly developing friendship, but their body language gives away that things are changing. They appear visibly drawn to each other. Sai tells the camera, “I can tell that whatever happened to my pheromones is affecting him. The problem is, I think his pheromones are affecting me too. I got the bigger boost, so I just need to make use of my advantage.”

The contestants are shown finishing lunch, and they all file outside. Harrison stands out in his black wide-leg jeans and black and white graphic tee. Marcus is in crisp khaki shorts and a pastel polo. He looks more like he’s about to board a yacht that do a reality show challenge. Everyone else is in more appropriate beachwear, with most wearing tank tops and casual shorts. Dante stands on the porch in the same outfit from before. His shirt flutters in the breeze, revealing even more of his torso. On the beach behind him, a massive obstacle course has been erected. Andre murmurs, “Well, shit.”

Dante explains the challenge. “This challenge will test your strength, speed, and teamwork.” Several players sigh or look concerned when he mentions teamwork. “You will have to transport a small but heavy crate through this course. First, you will have to pass under, over, and around a series of barriers. Then, one player must carry the crate across an elevated plank, using his teammates for support. And finally, you must climb up the wall and hoist it up to the top of the wall.” As he describes the course, camera shots zoom in on each section. “The fastest team will gain access to the winners’ wheel. The slowest team will have to spin the losers’ wheel. You will be broken into three teams of three based on who you’re standing next to right now.”

Tyler is standing all the way on the left, and he looks over to see Marcus and Bradley next to him. In a confessional, Marcus sighs. “Sure, Tyler will be a beast with the heavy crate, but I can’t imagine him playing well with others in a team challenge. I’m a natural leader, but he obviously thinks he is too.”

The middle three—Sai, Rory, and Andre—group themselves together. They all look pleased. Sai tells the camera, “Rory’s huge, and Andre does fitness challenges for his channel. All I have to do is not slow them down.”

That leaves Chris, Harrison, and Warren on the right. In Harrison’s confessional, he says, “I think it’s safe to say we’re team underdog. We don’t have Andre or Tyler or Rory. But I’m actually a lot more active than the guys would assume, and Warren’s obviously really in shape. Don’t count us out.”

Dante adds one more twist. “Oh! I might have forgotten to mention one little thing. Take off your shirts,” he instructs. The contestants all obey. Bradley openly stares at Tyler’s muscles. Marcus, Sai, and Harrison, while lean, all look more fit than the others might have guessed. “Each of you will have to wear a safety harness.” The camera shows Sai putting his on. There’s a big metal ring on the chest.

Dante holds up three larger metal rings that are each attached to three cords. “Each team will be tethered for the duration of the challenge.” He gives a ring to the first team, and they start hooking the cords onto each safety harness. “These cords are three feet long, so it will be physically impossible to get more than six feet away from a teammate. Additionally, if you ever set the crate down anywhere except the designated platform at the base of the wall, you will be penalized ten seconds.”

Sai, Rory, and Andre start experimentally testing how far they can move apart before they pull the cords taut. Warren tells the camera, “This is diabolical. Anyone who tries too hard to do things on their own could physically hurt their teammates. Plus, it forces us to keep close proximity while we’re still adjusting to our new… feelings.”

The first team sets up at the starting line. Bradley holds the center ring that connects their cords so it doesn’t drag on the ground. Tyler naturally picks up the crate. It’s only a 16-inch cube, but he grunts when he lifts it, alerting the audience to just how heavy it is. Dante blows the starting whistle, and Tyler launches into the course, jumping over a horizontal bar like a hurdle. In slow motion, Bradley and Marcus stumble as they get physically dragged into the course. It cuts to commercial.

The show comes back with a rerun of the slo-mo footage. Bradley and Marcus get their footing and get over the first barrier, but the team’s progression slows to a crawl as they argue with Tyler about how to progress. A few obstacles require clever passing of the crate, and Marcus has to direct Tyler to hand it off to Bradley. Tyler listens, but his expression grows increasingly cloudy. Tyler insists that he should do the plank since he’s the best at carrying the crate. Marcus insists that he should do it because he’s nimbler and Tyler would be better as a spotter. Bradley, possibly swayed by Marcus’s charisma, sides with him.

Marcus just barely makes it across the beam before stumbling and falling into Tyler’s arms. The two both start blushing and hurriedly separate before the moment turns into sensual touch. Tyler takes the crate to the base of the wall and starts climbing while Bradley attaches it to the pulley. Tyler hits a snag partway up. Bradley is still on the ground, and the cords are pulled taut. “Hurry up!” Tyler barks. Marcus berates Tyler, saying that he should have been more aware of the time and effort Bradley was putting into securing the crate. Tyler huffs and puffs. As soon as Bradley starts climbing, Tyler starts practically hauling the younger man up the wall behind him. Tyler finally makes it up the wall and immediately starts pulling up the crate all by himself.

The team finishes with no penalties, but it’s clear that they were incredibly inefficient. Players on the other two teams give confessionals saying that seeing Tyler’s team move so slowly gives them hope.

Next up is Sai, Rory, and Andre. This run is the complete opposite of the first team’s. Rory seems a little distracted, possibly by the combined pheromones from his teammates, but otherwise the trio is perfectly in sync. Andre is confident but considerate. Rory is physically skilled, and his newfound charisma helps unify the team. Sai simply listens and follows instructions from his teammates. He seems a bit distracted by his close proximity to Andre, but he hides it well. By the time they finish, it’s clear that team three will have no chance of beating their time.

Chris tells the camera, “This is it. There’s no way we can win, but we have a real shot of avoiding the losers’ wheel. I feel like the weak link here, so I’m just going to do whatever Warren and Harrison tell me to do.”

Warren immediately puts his increased charisma to use. “None of us has the strength to hold that crate for long periods of time,” he tells his teammates. “Chris, you pick it up to start. As soon as it feels too heavy, hand it to Harrison. Harrison, when it’s too much for you, give it to me. When I need to pass it off, I’ll give it back to Chris.” The strategy works well. Right toward the end of the first section, Chris struggles to get the crate through a tight space, and he drops it. He stammers out an apology, but the other two encourage him, and he quickly picks it back up.

The team keeps their slow and steady mentality. Warren gets the crate across the plank with virtually no help. The three keep close as they climb up the wall together, and they take turns pulling the rope to hoist the crate up the wall.

After the challenge, all the contestants gather again. They’ve all taken off the harnesses, but they’re still shirtless. There’s tension in the air while the teams wait to find out if the penalty put team three behind team one. Dante announces the official results. Team three is safe. Even with the penalty, they were several seconds ahead on team one. Chris, Harrison, and Warren will not be spinning any wheels. They cheer and hug, but then they back off quickly. Dante leads everyone back to the porch where the winner’s and losers’ wheels have been set up. They each have a lot of spots in different colors. The words are too small to easily read.

“As you all know,” Dante tells the group, “these wheels will be a game changer. The winners’ wheel has augmentations that can make you bigger, stronger, and more dominant, both physically and psychologically.” He reads a couple of labels on the wheel. “Handsomeness Plus Two, Height Plus Two Inches.” He pauses for dramatic effect. “Penis Plus Two Inches.” That raises some eyebrows.

“And what about the losers’ wheel?” Dante asks rhetorically. “Deference Plus Two. Pheromone Sensitivity Puls Two. Touch Sensitivity Plus Two. And of course, those are just a few examples. Sai, Rory, and Andre, step up to claim your prizes.”

Sai eagerly spins the wheel. The bright colors become a blur. The show cuts to commercial.

After the break, the wheel finally slows down and then stops. Dante pulls the pie piece off of the wheel. “Muscle tone Plus Three!” he announces. Sai is thrilled. Rory steps up and gives a powerful spin. “Charisma Plus Two!” A chart with only one row appears to Rory’s right. It reads Charisma: +2. The +2 flashes and changes to +4, reminding the audience that his augmentations will compound. Andre spins last. Dante gets a devilish look on his face and looks Andre in the eye instead of looking at the camera. “Penis Plue Two Inches.” Andre’s eyes widen.

In a confessional, Andre says, “Honestly, it’s a blessing and a curse. If the other guys start getting more attracted, they’ll want what I have between the legs, but I don’t want to start thinking with my dick. If I let that dictate my plan of action, I could get in big trouble real fast.”

Now it’s time for the losing team. Bradley looks resigned. Marcus looks angry, and Tyler is fuming. Tyler goes first. “Height Minus Three Inches,” Dante reads. Tyler looks ready to throttle someone.

Bradley spins and gets Prettiness Plus Two. “What’s that even mean?” he asks under his breath

Marcus hears and replies, “We’ll find out soon enough.” Marcus gets Pheromone Sensitivity Plus Two. In a confessional, he says, “This is a huge problem. Three contestants already have augmented pheromones, and they’re all guys who won’t be afraid to push their advantage. My goal was to stay as clear-headed as possible, so this throws a huge wrench in my strategy.”

The augmentations are implemented. Sai, Tyler, and Bradley experience obvious visual changes. Tyler is standing near Chris, and he quickly goes from being taller to eye level with the quieter contestant. His whole frame shrinks slightly, maintaining the same proportions he had when he was taller. He isn’t short, but he’s now around the same height as most of the other contestants instead of being noticeably taller than everyone except Rory. Rory stands around half a foot taller than Tyler, and Tyler bristles at having to look so far up at the other man. Rory experiments with taking control of the situation and pats Tyler on the shoulder with an almost patronizing smile.

Sai’s frame doesn’t grow much larger, but the camera zooms in as his toned stomach turns into a very defined six-pack. A wide shot shows that his chest is starting to look like a proper pair of pecs. He initiates a conversation with Marcus and Andre. Andre’s eyes go right to Sai’s new musculature, while Marcus’s gaze becomes unfocused and his lips part slightly.

Bradley asks Warren if he really looks different. “You’re… cuter,” Warren assesses. “You look like what my son would call a twink.”

Dante tells the group to relax for the evening. “Test out your augmentations,” he says. “Test the other players’ limits. Ask yourself: Who’s going to lose some points first?” And with that, he leaves.

The show cuts between brief scenes of building tension. Rory never bothers to put a shirt back on. He tries out his newfound charm on Harrison and Chris. Chris practically drools staring at Rory’s chest, but Rory doesn’t push it just yet. He tells the camera he doesn’t want to outright manipulate Chris. Chris will give in on his own sooner or later.

Andre confesses to Harrison that his increased package is unwieldy in his underwear. He tells the camera that that was no bonding moment. He remembers that Harrison’s libido was increased, and he wants to put the size of his junk on Harrison’s mind. Sai launches a charm offensive on Bradley, pairing his natural wit and charisma with his improved body and enhanced pheromones.

In a confessional, Sai says, “I came in here knowing I had an advantage. I’m surrounded by guys who are into guys five nights a week. The other contestants may be new to the feelings, but I know exactly what it’s doing to them on the inside. I’m going to draw the first blood, and it’ll be easy.”

Sai, like Rory, has remained shirtless all evening. He compliments Bradley’s changed face, saying it gives him boyish charm. When Bradley points out that the prettiness is supposed to be a disadvantage, Sai brushes it off, saying, “It’s what you make it. If the other guys think you’re hot, you can use that. You just have to make them feel like they’re the one in control.” He leans close to Bradley, who involuntarily takes a deep breath. “Enough about your augmentation. What do you think about mine?”

Bradley stammers, caught off guard. “It—it—well, it looks good. Uh, really good.”

Sai pauses thoughtfully as if he’s still on the fence. After a bit, he says, “I mean, I’m not big like Tyler and Rory.”

Bradley is quick to reassure Sai. “Your abs look amazing! And your chest… your chest is…” He breathes deeply again and zones out.

“Tell me what you really think of my muscles. Or just show me.”

Bradley’s eyes remain unfocused. He reaches out and puts a hand on one of Sai’s small but firm pecs. It trails down toward Sai’s cobblestone abs. Sai looks straight at the camera. A graphic appears: Bradley: 95 points (–5, Prolonged sensual touch).

The camera suddenly switches to Dante King on the beach. “The first player has lost points. This game just got real. But it’s still just the beginning. What augmentations will tomorrow bring? Who will win the challenge and gain new advantages? Who will choke?” He gestures to his exposed abs. “Who will find out the hard way that touching me loses points too? Find out next time… on Alpha House: Turning Tides!”

“Previously on Alpha House: Turning Tides!” A montage shows clips from the first episode. Contestants gets their shots at Augment Enterprises. Dante King welcomes everyone to the villa. Marcus steps out of his SUV. Bradley and Harrison agree to share a room. Tyler’s team implodes in the challenge. Sai, Rory, and Andre have great chemistry and spin the winners’ wheel. Warren leads his team to safety. Sai tells the camera he’s got an advantage. Bradley gets lost in touching Sai’s body.

The episode begins with Bradley suddenly realizing what he just did. Sai downplays it. “Sorry, man. I guess it’s the pheromones. Don’t worry, I won’t tell any of the other guys.”

Bradley thanks him. In a confessional, Bradley says, “I don’t know how I feel about it. Was he manipulating me, or was it just the pheromones?” He sighs and shrugs. “I do like him. And I’m the one who got the extra attraction augmentation. He’s just playing the game. I’ve gotta be more careful.”

A montage shows all of the guys getting ready for bed. Each one goes through his routine shirtless and then gets into bed. A wide shot shows the villa under the moonlight, with the title card overlaid. A timelapse sunrise brings forth the next day.

This time, more emphasis is placed on the morning. Andre wakes early and does some exercises in his room. The camera gets close-ups of his muscles. Afterwards, he walks into the kitchen shirtless and gets coffee started. He tells the camera that he’s taking a cue from Rory and Sai. He may not have enhanced charisma or muscles, but he’s proud of his body and used to showing off, so he might as well do it.

Tyler heads into a common area to do his morning workout. He’s also shirtless, but for a different reason. In a confessional, he stews over the fact that his compressed height makes his clothes fit differently. “The whole point of working out in a common area is to make the other guys look at me, so my shirt has to be tight. That’s not an option today, so I guess I have to ditch the shirt.”

As Tyler gets ready to work out, Warren passes him, wearing a casual linen button-up. Warren manages to silently draw attention to the fact that he is at eye level with Tyler instead of having to look up. Tyler huffs loudly. Harrison and Rory come into the kitchen, and Rory almost immediately starts making plans for breakfast. He dons an apron over his bare torso, which somehow accentuates his broad back even more. Harrison sneaks a few looks as he gets his coffee. Andre offers to help with breakfast.

Eventually, Bradley, Chris, Marcus, and Sai join the group. Bradley avoids eye contact with Sai, but Andre swoops in and starts chatting with Bradley, gradually moving closer. Bradley laughs nervously. In a confessional, he says, “These guys are so hot. I still can’t believe I’m saying that, but it’s true. Between that and the pheromones, I just feel like I’m losing my head. I’m losing my confidence.”

Warren gathers Harrison and Chris and once again celebrates their collaborative success in the previous challenge. The three become animated as they continue bonding. Marcus is a bit stand-offish during breakfast. In a confessional, Rory wonders if that’s because of Marcus’ calculating, analytical nature or if it’s because of Marcus’ recent increase in pheromone sensitivity. “I’m doing my best to keep tabs,” he says. “Yesterday, three guys got pheromone boosts, and they’re all spread around the kitchen and living area. I don’t know how bad the pheromones hit him, but if I were him, I would feel like nowhere is safe.”

Marcus can tell the guys notice him keeping his distance, so he ingratiates himself by volunteering to do the dishes. He tells the camera, “Literally everything has consequences in this kind of environment. If I just avoid everyone, I miss out on alliances at best and put a target on my back at worst. And let’s face it. No one wants to do the dishes after a meal for nine. When we go into the challenge, they’ll all think of me as the guy who did the dishes after breakfast. Maybe I’ll volunteer after lunch too.”

The contestants continue their morning, splitting into new groups for small conversations, but Dante King comes in to stir things up. He’s wearing linen shorts and a hat with no shirt. He rounds everyone up and leads them back to the augmentation wheel. The guys stand fairly close together, but little bubbles form around Sai, Tyler, and Andre, who all have enhanced pheromones and are all shirtless.

Chris is the first to notice that something’s off. “Hey,” he says, “the wheels are different.” Murmurs spread around the room.

The camera zooms in on the number wheel, and Sai narrates for the audience. “The number wheel goes up to three now. And the spaces aren’t the same size.” The audience can easily see that the +2 spaces are twice as wide as the +1 and +3 spaces.

Bradley announces the other change to the group. “Great, Charisma’s gone. And it’s been replaced by Touch Sensitivity.” The camera shows that the four panels are now Male Attraction, Pheromones, Libido, and Touch Sensitivity.

Andre tells the camera what all the guys are thinking. “As far as I can tell, we’ve only got one boost now and three hindrances. I can only imagine how increased ‘Touch Sensitivity’ will actually feel, but I can guarantee it’ll make things harder.”

Dante watches with amusement as the players examine the wheels and talk about implications. Finally, he tells them, “Enough looking. It’s time… to spin the wheels!”

Bradley steps forward and spins. The show cuts to commercial.

The show returns with the wheels slowing down. Bradley closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. Dante announces, “Pheromones, Plus Two!”

Bradley allows himself to smile, but his confessional tells a different story. “I know the pheromone augmentation is supposed to be a good thing, but I have a funny feeling about it. With this… cuteness thing, will I be able to take control when the guys get all into me?” He sighs. “I guess we’ll find out.”

Tyler mutters as he spins. “More pheromones, more pheromones, more pheromones.”

Dante obviously takes sadistic delight in announcing, “Touch Sensitivity, Plus Three!”

Tyler can’t help himself. “This is bullshit,” he grumbles as he steps back into the group. A couple guys smirk at him.

In a confessional, Andre grins and says, “This guy has no idea how to play the game. I guarantee Sai is already coming up with a scheme to touch Tyler and make him melt. Tyler’s gotta keep his feelings to himself, but I don’t think he’s capable of that.”

Chris goes next. “Libido, Plus Three!”

Chris’s eyes widen. “Of course,” he murmurs. As he returns to his spot in the group, he quietly tells Harrison, “I knew I would get a three. I knew it.”

Marcus spins Male Attraction, Plus Two. His eyes tighten. In a confessional, he sighs heavily. “I just feel like my normal strategy is slipping out of my grasp. I started with that charisma boost, which played into my style perfectly. Then I got the pheromone sensitivity, and now this. My whole strategy relies on keeping a clear head, and how am I going to do that when I keep finding the guys hotter and hotter?”

Sai gets Touch Sensitivity, Plus Two. He tells the camera, “Good thing I got Bradley to rub my chest before I got this augmentation. That type of gambit will be a lot riskier now.”

Rory spins Male Attraction, Plus One. Warren gets Pheromones, Plus Two. Andre gets Libido, Plus Two. Andre tells the camera, “This is exactly what I was afraid of. I love the augmentation from yesterday. I can feel the extra weight hanging there, and it’s… it’s really hot. But add in a libido boost, and my extra size could be a huge liability.” He realizes what he just said. “No pun intended.”

Finally, Harrison spins the wheels. Dante booms, “Male Attraction, Plus Two!”

“Great,” he says in a confessional. “Libido plus more attraction. What could possibly go wrong? But then, I came here to stir shit up, and I’ve done a pretty bad job of that so far. Maybe I can find a way to use this to my advantage.”

The contestants receive their augmentations, and although there are no physical alterations, the energy in the room changes. Chris desperately tries to look anywhere besides the shirtless men in the room. A chart appears to his right with two rows that read Male Attraction: +2 and Libido: +3. Tyler tenses up and steps back toward the corner as if he’s expecting one of the others to reach out and test his newfound sensitivity right there. Harrison suddenly appears more aware of the bare torsos around him, including Dante’s. Marcus also receives increased male attraction, but he manages to keep a poker face.

In a confessional, Sai says, “I’m just standing around watching the other guys. I’m not about to broadcast my touch sensitivity like Tyler. Hopefully Tyler will keep doing dumb stuff to remind everyone about his augmentation, and they’ll all just forget that I got the exact same one.”

Chris tells the camera, “I can literally feel myself getting… you know… chubbing up right then and there. That libido boost hit hard, and I’m standing right by Warren, who got a pheromone boost. I don’t notice a particular smell, but just being close to him is really getting to me.”

Just as the room is settling down, Dante throws a curveball. “Oh, by the way. I’ll be joining you for lunch and staying with you in the villa until the challenge later this afternoon.” The players all look very concerned. Rory sums it up in a confessional.

“First of all, he’s hotter than any of us. Having him around will make it impossible to forget all the new feelings that are swirling around. And second, we can’t trust him. He’s gonna stir the pot. Will he taunt us with his body? Ask really personal questions about who’s the hottest? Or maybe he’ll go even further and ask who’s gonna lose the most points first. I’m expecting all of it. He spells trouble.”

The guys all disperse. Sai and Andre chat but keep some distance between them. Harrison disappears into his and Bradley’s room. Warren sticks close to Chris, seemingly unaware of the younger man’s efforts to get away. In a confessional, Warren assures the audience that he knows exactly what he’s doing. “Chris has attraction and libido boosts, and I’ve got a charisma boost and my new pheromone boost. If I stay close, he’ll be all over me before he knows it. I like Chris a lot, but he’s such an easy target.”

Sai starts a conversation with Marcus, who begins to uncharacteristically stammer and stare. In Sai’s confessional, he laughs. “I haven’t forgotten about Marcus’ pheromone sensitivity. Add that to his increased attraction, and I can get him off his game just by being near him. He can’t stop looking at my abs. I feel like I’m back at the bar on a Saturday night. All I have to do is show off a little and be friendly.”

Marcus tells the camera his side of the story. “He’s objectively a good-looking guy. And now… well, now I can’t take my eyes off of him. And I know part of it is the pheromones, but what am I supposed to do? I can’t just avoid all the guys completely.”

Harrison emerges from his room wearing a pair of black skinny jeans and no shirt. “Okay, screw my own changes,” he tells the camera. “The point here is to mess with guys and make them want me. Some people go for the skinny look. Time to find out who.” As he moves between rooms, Chris and Bradley both obviously turn their heads to watch him. Harrison smirks at the camera and slowly circles back around to Bradley.

Just as some of the guys start looking around the kitchen to see what they should make for lunch, Dante King returns and tells everyone that he’s got lunch covered. In the next scene, the kitchen countertops are covered in food—sandwiches, a veggie tray, a fruit platter, and mini desserts. The contestants file in and start helping themselves. Dante positions himself in a place where the guys can barely get around him to get to the napkins and utensils. He grins at the camera as different players attempt to brush by him with as little physical contact as possible.

The guys settle into two groups for lunch—one at the kitchen table and one on the patio. Dante grabs some food for himself and sits down at the table with Chris, Warren, Bradley, and Harrison. The four contestants all tense up a little bit. Dante loosens them up by asking some casual questions about how they’ve been acclimating, what’s the best part of the house, and what’s been the hardest part of the competition so far. The men give fairly predictable answers.

Then Dante goes for blood. “Which player do you think has already lost points?” Bradley’s eyes practically pop out of his head. Luckily for him, the others look equally shocked.

Harrison asks, “Wait, someone’s already lost points?” Dante grins and nods. “What did he do?”

In a confessional, Bradley breathes a sigh of relief. “Thank god Sai isn’t in the room. I don’t know if I’d be able to play dumb if he was right there.” In the kitchen, Bradley does an admirable job of keeping an innocent expression. “I guess we can’t be surprised that none of us have heard anything. Whoever it is, he’d have a target on his back if anyone found out.” The others all nod.

Dante gets up and heads outside, leaving the four men to speculate. Warren points out, “Losing points involves someone else. You know, touching or kissing. Which means two people know who lost points.”

Chris nods in comprehension. “Whoever he touched or kissed has an advantage now because they’re the only one who knows his secret.”

Harrison adds, “I bet it’s Sai or Andre. They were really flaunting their changes after the challenge yesterday.” The others all murmur agreement.

On the patio, the conversation halts when Dante steps out of the house. Sai, Andre, Marcus, Tyler, and Rory all turn toward the host as he slouches into a lounge chair in a way that effortlessly shows off his body. Dante uses similar questions to before to loosen everyone up, but this group is a bit more guarded than the other.

Dante shifts to a different approach and starts deliberately provoking them. “Tyler,” he asks, “How does it feel to be average height?”

Tyler visibly tenses up. “I’ve still got my muscles,” he huffs.

Dante turns to Marcus. “And his muscles are hot, aren’t they?”

Marcus blushes, a strange sight on the tightly wound man. He chooses his words carefully. “I’m still getting used to this whole ‘finding guys hot’ thing.” Some of the others nod.

Dante moved on to another contestant. “Rory, you’ve got your natural size plus your newfound charisma. Got any targets in mind?” He jerks his head toward the house. “I bet you could wrap someone around your little finger.”

In a confessional, Rory says, “I knew it! He’s just here to mess with us.” Back on the patio, he puffs out his chest, seemingly unconsciously. “That’s the game, isn’t it?” he replies. “I’ll just say I’ve got some strategies in mind.”

Dante simply grins and moves on to his next target. “Sai, what about you? He gestures at the other man’s sculpted abs. “Got any strategies to use your assets? Any plans to make someone lose points?”

Sai does a better job than the others of keeping his cool. “I do know a thing or two about what guys like,” he admits. “As for what I’m going to do with that knowledge… well, you’ll just have to wait and find out.”

After a little more conversation, Dante gathers everyone on the patio for their next challenge. “This time, you’re competing as individuals,” he announces. The contestants breathe a collective sigh of relief. “And this won’t be a physical contest. Instead, it will be a battle of wills. You’re going to play a game of temptation. Think of it as something like ‘gay chicken.’” The men all tense up again. The show cuts to commercial.

After the break, the show jumps to a confessional from Marcus. “We’re about to hear the rules for a challenge that Dante calls ‘gay chicken.’ This could be really bad. If I have to be up close and personal with a guy with enhanced pheromones, it could really cloud my judgment.”

Dante begins his explanation. “Each player will compete in two head-to-head rounds. The order will be chosen randomly. The two chosen players will stand facing each other on marked spots.” He points to two small circular mats in the sand on the beach. You may use anything at your disposal—words, touch, sheer presence—to overwhelm your opponent. The match ends when one contestant initiates a kiss or steps away in forfeit. Any player who loses both rounds will spin the losers’ wheel… and will automatically lose twenty points.”

The camera catches looks of shock and worry from the contestants. Rory simply raises his eyebrows while Chris looks panicked. Bradley tells the camera, “I cannot lose both rounds. I’m pretty sure I’m the only one who’s lost points so far. I need some guys to lose both rounds so that I won’t be on the bottom anymore.”

“Due to the nature of the challenge,” Dante continues, “point loss for kissing is temporarily suspended. Prolonged sensual touch or making out during the challenge will still cost you points. That said, a calculated sacrifice might be worth it to win the match. Players who win both of their matches will spin the winners’ wheel and receive a Free Pass.” He again pauses to let the contestants’ curiosity grow.

“A Free Pass will prevent you from losing points for one kiss. Whoever you kiss will still lose points.” This sends ripples across the group. Marcus and Sai are clearly calculating possible uses for the Free Pass.

“Oh, and one more thing! Today, every player will be spinning a wheel after the challenge. If you end the challenge with one win and one loss, you will have to face a mystery lightning round to determine which wheel you spin.”

“Of course,” Harrison mutters. Warren shakes his head with a wry smile.

“Time for the first round!” Dante produces 18 coins—two with each player’s name—and tosses them into a bag. He shakes it up and pulls two coins back out. “The first competitors will be… Andre and Bradley!”

Andre takes a deep breath and cracks his knuckles. He looks relatively relaxed. Bradley is clearly nervous. Andre is still shirtless, while Bradley is wearing a loose tank top. They are directed to a spot out on the sand where they are visible but out of earshot from the other contestants. They stand on designated mats with their noses inches apart.

Dante shouts, “Round One, begin!”

Andre immediately begins flexing his muscles. He leans even closer to Bradley and whispers that Bradley should just let go. Bradley tries to speak but can’t get a word in edgewise as Andre starts waxing poetic about being a proper specimen of manhood. When he says ‘manhood,’ he bucks his hips to show off his oversized bulge.

Andre unexpectedly puts both hands on Bradley’s hips and pulls him closer. He moves one hand to the small of Bradley’s back. A graphic notes the infraction: Andre: 95 points (-5—Prolonged sensual touch). As the graphic fades, Andre parts his lips and comes a hair closer to Bradley. Bradley seemingly can’t help himself. He closes the distance and kisses Andre. The two suddenly back away, each breathing heavily.

“Andre wins!” Dante calls out.

Bradley seems in a daze as he stumbles back to the group. Andre, despite his win, isn’t in much better shape. In a confessional, Andre explains, “Sure the match went exactly how I planned it. Start by tempting him, and then just turn up the dials so fast that he doesn’t have time to react with anything except instinct. But… damn, I just let a guy kiss me. No, I convinced him to kiss me. And… it was hot. I’m… feeling kinda turned on.”

Bradley tells the camera, “I had better get an easier opponent for my next match. I cannot lose twenty points today. But now… now, I’m thinking about what it would be like to kiss some of the other guys.”

Dante pulls out the next two coins. “Round two will be… Chris and Sai!”

Chris slumps. He looks like he’s already lost the match. Sai tells the camera, “I’ll try to go easy on him. I mean, there’s only one way this match ends, so no need to come out guns blazing.”

By the time the match begins, Chris is already helplessly trying to find somewhere safe to look. His eyes dart from Sai’s handsome face to his abs and then his chest. Sai just runs a hand through his silky hair and smiles.

“You’re a nice guy,” Sai tells his opponent. “I like you. You can back away if you’re uncomfortable.” He lets Chris consider this option. “Or you can see what it’s like to kiss a guy. Either way, it’s the same result. There’s no extra penalty for kissing me.” Chris’s hands visibly twitch as he listens. This is not lost on Sai. “Look, I want you to touch me. I’d love that. But you don’t need to lose any points right now. Just kiss me and lose gracefully. You know you want a taste. You’re dying to find out what it feels like.”

Chris’s breathing is unsteady. Sai stops talking and lets the tension hang between them. He tilts his neck just the slightest bit. Chris mirrors him. And then Chris kisses Sai. It’s slow and sensual. He pulls away looking surprisingly calm.

Sai expresses his thoughts in a confessional. “He needed that. Like, genuinely. That wasn’t a game to him. He really did need to know what it felt like.” He pauses thoughtfully. “He’s a good kisser. If he had a little confidence, he could probably use that as an advantage.”

The challenge continues. Round three is Tyler versus Andre. Andre’s decisive victory over Bradley is obviously on everyone’s mind as the two take their places. In a confessional, Warren notes, “Tyler has been shaken ever since this all started. Andre, on the other hand, is probably feeling very powerful right now.”

The two stand in front of each other, both shirtless and ripped. Andre casually notes, “You’re a hair shorter than me now.” Tyler predictably bristles.

Andre tells the camera, “Time for another calculated sacrifice. I’m fine with losing a few points if it means getting that Free Pass.”

Andre places a hand on Tyler’s rippling stomach. Tyler stiffens. Andre’s hand moves up, and soon both of his hands are groping Tyler’s round pecs. A graphic alerts the audience that Andre is down to 90 points. Within moments, Tyler takes several steps back. Dante announces that Tyler has forfeited the match. Andre has won both of his matches, securing a Free Pass.

In a confessional, Tyler is still shaken. “That… that was weird. I mean, the touch sensitivity thing. I knew it was gonna be bad, but I didn’t know exactly what it would feel like. It was… damn, it was electric. Like, every little move of his hands sent a jolt through me, but the jolts felt so good. This is too damn weird.”

The two return to the group. Sai congratulates Andre on his double win and hopes he can also pull off the feat. Dante picks the players for the fourth round. “Marcus and Rory!”

The guys murmur as the two head to the designated spot. Harrison tells Chris, “This’ll be interesting. Neither seems like one to budge easily.”

Sure enough, the match starts with the two silently sizing each other up, seemingly comfortable with being practically nose-to-nose. The moment stretches on and on.

The shot abruptly switches to Rory’s confessional. “I’ve been holding my cards close to my chest, acting like the quiet country boy. Time to make my first move.” It cuts to commercial.

The show returns with a continuation of Rory’s confessional. “So everyone thinks that Chris and Marcus are the only ones who are really into reality shows. Truth is, I’ve just been keeping my mouth shut so no one guesses that I’m strategizing. I watch lots of reality shows, and I get really curious about different strategies and how they pan out. I came into this game wanting to see how my ideas hold up in action. And now it’s time to put my strategy to the test. Even with Marcus’ augmentations, I doubt I could make him crack. But I have another plan.”

On the beach, Marcus and Rory take their places. Marcus looks vaguely beach-appropriate in his linen button-down and perfectly pressed khaki shorts. Rory towers over him, his wide, muscular frame dominating the camera shot. His naturally tanned skin glistens in the sun.

Marcus tells the camera, “I can’t lie and say he doesn’t look great. At least he doesn’t have a pheromone boost. I think I can keep my cool, but I don’t know how I can beat him.”

Rory doesn’t try any of the techniques the others have used. In fact, he doesn’t move at all. He just starts talking very quietly, just loud enough for the mics to pick up. “I want to make a deal.” Marcus is obviously surprised, but he keeps his reaction restrained. “I watched your season of Big Brother. I know your strategy. And I can tell you haven’t got your footing here just yet. You’re missing a key factor for your strategy.”

Marcus does his best to keep his expression neutral. “And what’s that?”

“An alliance. Forfeit this match, and you’ll have an ally in the house.”

Over on the patio, the rest of the guys watch as the two contenders hardly move. Chris asks Warren, “They’re just talking, right? What could they be talking about?” Warren shrugs.

Marcus asks Rory, “How do I know I can trust you as an ally?”

“When I get my Free Pass—”

“If,” Marcus interrupts.

“When I get my Free Pass, I’ll let you pick how I should use it. Or rather, who I should use it on.”

They negotiate a little while longer, but Marcus eventually steps away and concedes. The other players on the patio are stunned. Bradley and Andre try to ask what happened, but Rory and Marcus both keep quiet. Dante grins knowingly and reaches into the bag.

“Round Five is… Warren and Chris!”

The two walk onto the beach with confessional commentary from Warren. “Chris is a nice guy. I like him. But he’s an easy target, and I need at least one win.” As Warren walks, he unbuttons his shirt, shrugs it off, and lets it fall in the sand.

Back in the group, Bradley murmurs, “He’s getting serious.”

By the time the match begins, Chris is already staring at Warren’s lean, fit torso. Warren asks, “So how was the kiss with Sai?” Chris’s breath hitches. “That good, huh? Well, I’d wager I have a lot more practice than he does.” He casually stretches, subtly turning so that his pit is right in Chris’s face.

Chris breathlessly tells the camera, “Those pheromones pack a punch.”

Warren spends a little more time reinforcing Chris’s desire with his words and his body, but the ending is already a foregone conclusion. Chris leans in for the kiss. A graphic shows that Chris has dropped to 80 points. Chris admits to the camera that both kisses were pretty hot, so maybe it was worth it.

Dante moves right along to the next round. “Tyler and Harrison!”

Tyler and Harrison each get brief confessional moments. Tyler says he’s looking for redemption. Harrison grins at the camera. “Time to make good on my plans to stir shit up. If I make Tyler lose, he’ll be the second one to lose twenty points.”

The two shirtless men take their spots. Harrison’s skinny torso contrasts sharply with Tyler’s muscular frame, but both look very attractive. As soon as the match starts, Harrison shocks everyone by dancing. He dances very seductively, making his whole body undulate. A wide shot shows Bradley watching open-mouthed as Harrison thrusts his hips.

“I’ve got an ex who loved the Magic Mike movies,” he explains in a confessional. “She insisted I learn some of the moves because it would be super hot. Turns out, she was right.”

Tyler tries to keep his game face on, but he keeps glancing down at Harrison’s hips and bulge. Harrison takes things further and grinds up against Tyler. Before Harrison can even lose any points for prolonged touch, Tyler scoots several steps back. Tyler looks angry and defeated as he rejoins the group with the graphic showing 80 points. Andre and Sai congratulate Harrison on his win.

“Those were some moves!” Sai laughs. “These guys had better watch out!”

Dante asks the group if he and Harrison should have a dance-off. Harrison blushes. Rory tells the camera, “We do not need to encourage him. Considering his line of work, I bet he’s learned moves from professionals.”

Dante announces Round Seven: Marcus versus Sai. Tyler is still sulking, but everyone else is very curious about how this match will turn out. If Sai wins, he’ll get a Free Pass and Marcus will lose twenty points.

Sai tells the camera he has a clear advantage. “He’s got pheromone sensitivity, and I’ve got enhanced pheromones. This is a bad matchup for him.”

Marcus looks surprisingly confident as he stands in front of the handsome, sculpted man. In a confessional, he says, “The pheromones are making me crazy, but I have a plan. I know I can rely on my analytical mind and my strategies.” The match starts, and he tells Sai, “Your augmentation this morning went under the radar, but I remember.” He reaches out a hand as if to caress Sai’s body, but he stops short.

Sai looks worried for the first time. “Let me guess. If I lose, you’ll keep my secret.”

Marcus nods. “Resist, and I’ll put my hands all over you. I’ll risk losing points to remind everyone on the patio that you’re extra sensitive to touch. Step away and forfeit, and I’ll make sure not to bring up your vulnerability. Or…”

“Or what?”

“Or kiss me and I’ll keep your secret as well as making an alliance with you.”

“So you knock me down a peg in the eyes of the others, and I get the security of an alliance.” Marcus nods. Sai only thinks about it for a few moments before diving in for a passionate kiss. Marcus is taken completely by surprise. He very nearly forgets himself and starts making out before abruptly pulling away. As Sai starts walking back to the group, he tells Marcus, “Now we’ve each got a win and a loss. We both go on to the lightning round, whatever that is.”

Back on the patio, the guys have been figuring out who’s left. Harrison says, “It’s me, Rory, Bradley, and Warren.” The four all look at each other, wondering how they’ll be paired up.

Dante announces the next to last round. “Rory and Warren!”

Rory stands tall, equally handsome and imposing, but Warren appears calm.

Harrison tells Chris, “This’ll be another battle of wills.”

To everyone’s surprise, Rory takes a completely different approach. He flexes, showing off his burly body, and he inches toward the shorter man.

Warren stays relatively relaxed. “So that’s how you’re going to play it, huh?”

Rory leans closer, his mouth inches away from Warren’s neck. “You’re going to let me win. I promise.” His behavior is a far cry from the reserved country buy persona he’s been projecting.

Warren just smiles. “I don’t mind you being so close to me. Chris already kissed me. Can’t get much closer than that.”

“Is that so?” Rory straightens up, puts his hands on Warren’s sides, and lifts the older man so that they’re eye to eye.

Back of the patio, the guys go wild. Chris asks, “Won’t he lose points for that?”

Marcus counters, “Does it count as sensual? He’s just holding him there.”

Even Tyler is impressed. “He just… lifted him right off the ground.”

Rory tells Warren, “I’m the biggest guy here. If I get lucky, I’ll get even bigger. When I set you down, you’re going to take a few steps back so I can guarantee my second win and get another augmentation from the winners’ wheel. And later, when I’m even bigger and bolder, we’ll see if you want to try kissing a real man.”

When Rory sets Warren down, the dad doesn’t move right away, but his eyes are laser-focused on Rory’s lips. Finally he gathers himself. “I’m… I’m not going to beat you, am I?”

“Not a chance.”

Warren steps back and forfeits the match. The other contestants can be heard hooting and hollering from the patio.

In a confessional, Andre is very animated. “Rory just got a Free Pass. By totally manhandling Warren. None of us saw that one coming.”

Bradley and Harrison head to the beach for the final round. Bradley once again tells the camera, “I’m not losing twenty points today.”

It cuts to Harrison’s confessional. “I have a shot at a Free Pass. Me! I’ve gotta do this.”

As the match begins, Bradley pulls his shirt off. “I’ve been meaning to ask you what you think of this prettiness thing,” he tells Harrison. The emo guy looks completely thrown off.

“I… it looks good on you, I guess,” Harrison responds.

Bradley asks, “You gonna dance for me? Those moves were pretty hot, you know.”

Bradley triumphantly tells the camera, “I think I figured out what I’m doing wrong. I’ve been fighting the changes. But that obviously isn’t working for Tyler. The guys who are winning are leaning into it. The changes, the feelings, everything. Harrison looks hot, which is something I never thought I’d say about a guy. So why can’t I believe that maybe he finds me hot too? And I’ve got a pheromone boost on my side too.”

Bradley does his best to mimic some of Harrison’s moves. “Maybe you’ll have to teach me,” he murmurs. He swivels his hips.

“Dude, stop,” Harrison mutters. “This isn’t…”

“You’re pretty hot,” Bradley says outright. “I want you to kiss me.”

“For the game or just because?”

Bradley presses his body against Harrison, losing five points. “What if I said both?”

Harrison looks like he’s about to take a step back, but at the last minute, he leans in for the kiss. The kiss doesn’t stop.

On the patio, Chris breathes, “Whoa…”

Sai chimes in, “I’m pretty sure they’re gonna lose points for making out in a second.”

Sure enough, a graphic appears on the screen.

Bradley: 75 points (-15—Making out)
Harrison: 85 points (-15—Making out)

Bradley tells the camera, “That… backfired horribly. I still lost twenty points. But I did kind of seduce Harrison, and in this game, that’s a good thing. And I still have a chance at winning the lightning round and getting to spin the winners’ wheel. I’ve gotta look at the bright side.”

When the two return to the group, Andre wolf whistles. Harrison and Bradley both blush.

Dante wonders,” Hmm, I wonder how many points everyone has lost so far?” The contestants all look around curiously. “You’ll find out before you spin the wheels. But first! The lightning round! Marcus, Sai, Warren, Bradley, and Harrison, you will each be blindfolded one at a time. The other four contestants will get to watch. While you’re blindfolded… something… will happen. Your reaction will determine whether you win or lose.”

Harrison sarcastically says, “I just love clear, informative instructions.” Warren chuckles.

The camera zooms in on a blindfolded Marcus. The show cuts to commercial.

The shows returns with Andre, Tyler, Rory, and Chris standing on the patio looking at Marcus who is standing blindfolded on the other side by the hot tub. Dante King walks up beside the blindfolded contestant. “Point loss for kissing is still suspended for the duration of the challenge,” he reminds everyone. “Anything else still costs points as usual.” And with that, he suddenly kisses Marcus on the mouth. The bystanders stare wide-eyed.

Marcus reciprocates but breaks it off quickly. He tells the camera, “I did my best to mentally prepare myself. I figured it would be something like that.” Still, he licks his lips as he walks over to the others.

The scene repeats with Sai, complete with almost identical outcome. Sai reveals that he also correctly assumed what might happen while he was blindfolded. He tries to act casual, but he keeps stealing glances at the handsome host.

In a confessional, Chris says, “Suddenly I really wish I made it to the lightning round. A chance to kiss Dante…”

Next up is Warren, who is clearly caught off guard but still smoothly backs away after only a few moments.

Andre murmurs, “This is kind of boring. No one’s reacting.”

“That’s three more for the winners’ wheel,” Dante announces.

Bradley steps out of the house and puts his blindfold on. The moment Dante kisses him, Bradley’s hand goes to the other man’s waist. When Bradley steps back, he’s breathing heavy. He tells the camera, “I just can’t help myself today. I definitely have the lowest points, and my reaction is gonna send me to the losers’ wheel.”

Sai whispers to Rory, “Did it look that hot when he kissed me?” Rory gives a slight nod.

Harrison is the last contestant. The others all watch with anticipation. When Dante kisses him, Harrison’s hands twitch, but he doesn’t move his arms. He also doesn’t break off the kiss.

Chris can’t take his eyes off the scene, but he leans over to Warren and says, “They are definitely using tongue.”

Harrison tells the camera, “I am so turned on right now. I don’t know for sure who I’m kissing, but it has to be Dante King. I… I am contemplating all sorts of things that I have never thought about before. So many things.”

The make-out session finally ends. Dante says, “Well, I think it’s clear who’s going to the losers’ wheel.” Harrison and Bradley blush. “But first! Time for a point tally. Four players are still all 100 points! Marcus, Sai, Rory, and Warren.”

In a confessional, Andre says, “I have to watch for Warren and Rory. They both just seemed nice and happy to be here, but they know how to play the game.”

Dante continues, “After some effective gambits in the challenge, Andre has 90 points. Tyler and Chris each have 80 points. You each lost both matches, but neither of you has incurred any other penalties… yet. And bringing up the rear, Bradley and Harrison are both already down to 70 points.” The two both hang their heads. “Just remember boys, you’ll have plenty of chances to turn things around before it’s too late. But things might get even tougher for you after you spin the losers’ wheel.”

The shot cuts to Dante standing in front of the winners’ and losers’ wheels. Some of the colorful pie pieces have changed, but they’re still mostly too small to read. Dante points to the winners’ wheel. “Andre, step right up!”

Andre spins the wheel, and Dante peels off the pie piece. Dante takes a moment to read it silently, giving the impression that he may not be aware of what all the spots are. “Pecs and Glutes, Plus Three!”

Andre tells the camera, “That seems… specific. Well, it sure won’t hurt my online engagement, so I can’t be mad at it.”

Rody spins next. “Height, Plus Four Inches!” Rory looks surprised but pleased. Tyler is already getting upset.

Marcus spins, and Dante smiles to himself as he reads the reward. “Gain ten points and spin again!” On his second spin, Marcus gets Handsomeness, Plus Three.

“The looks upgrade will be nice,” Marcus says in a confessional. “I’m already handsome. And that’s not vanity. I’m just being real. I know my looks help me get what I want. So looking even better will definitely give me a leg up. I’m honestly not so happy about the extra points. Now that I have the most points out of anyone, people will be wanting to knock me down off the top.”

Sai’s turn is next. “Pheromones,” Dante says, pausing to reread the rest. His host mannerisms briefly fall away. In a bemused tone, he reads, “Arousal trigger.” Off the cuff, he says, “They’re really having fun with these, huh?” He seems to be genuinely enjoying himself as he watches the contestants’ reactions.

Dante puts the host façade back on as Warren spins. Warren gets Pheromones, Plus Three. A graphic shows that Warren is now up to +4 pheromones along with +1 charisma. “I’m pretty sure I have the highest pheromone boost out of anyone now,” he tells the camera. I’d love to start getting some physical changes, but I definitely think this will be useful.”

Dante turns his attention toward the losers’ wheel and calls Chris up to spin. The colors become a blur. In cuts to commercial.

The show returns with the wheel slowing to a stop. Chris gets Prettiness, Plus Three. He just shakes his head and sighs. Tyler stomps up to the wheel and spins it as hard as he possibly can. Dante’s eyes light up as he reads the pie piece. “Body Type, Ectomorph.” Tyler’s eyes flash with barely contained fury.

In a confessional, Harrison wears a huge grin. “I don’t know what that means, but Tyler is furious, which means it’s definitely a good thing for the rest of us. Also, it’s hilarious.”

Tyler shouts, “You can’t do this! I’m a gym teacher! I worked hard for this!” He gestures at his muscular torso. “You can’t do this!”

The show cuts to a scene back at the Augment Enterprises facility. A filter makes the shot washed out and grainy as if it’s security cam footage. An Augment Enterprises employee tells Tyler, “By signing this, you agree to any augmentations that are randomly assigned during the course of filming. Augmentations may affect sexual orientation, physical appearance, body shape and size, personality traits, and other traits as specified in Section Three of this document. These changes cannot be undone except by paying for new augmentations with opposite effects.” Tyler nods and signs the paper.

Back in the present, Bradley takes his turn at the losers’ wheel. Dante reads, “Male Attraction, Plus Three.”

Bradley breathes, “Oh, wow.” In a confessional, he groans, “I’m pretty sure that’s gonna make me mostly gay. Which is a problem in a house full of good-looking guys.”

Finally, Harrison makes the last spin on the day. He gets Pheromone Sensitivity, Plus Three. He tells the camera, “I am just not getting lucky. Libido, male attraction, pheromone sensitivity. Wow. I’ll really have to watch out for Sai. I don’t know exactly what arousal trigger means, but I can guess, and I’m not looking forward to how it’ll interact with my augmentations.”

The men file into the villa to receive their augmentations. This time, there are quite a few physical changes. Rory grows enormous. He informs the camara that he’s now 6’9”. He hasn’t just gotten taller. His frame has expanded to maintain similar proportions to before. Bradley is in awe. Tyler takes one quick look and turns away.

Andre’s pecs bulge out, becoming heavy and round. He experimentally flexes them. His butt completely fills out his shorts. Sai tells the camera, “He does look great. But I’d say he is officially curvy now. I mean, those proportions aren’t what I’d call normal.”

Cameras give close-ups of Marcus and Chris’s transformations. Marcus’ jaw becomes even stronger than it already was, and his piercing eyes change color to become more striking. His face shifts in various slight ways that add up to him looking like he belongs on a magazine cover. Chris undergoes an even more noticeable change. Since he was a bit more plain to begin with, his suddenly perfect features, plump lips, and silkier hair make him look almost like a different person. He looks like he belongs in a fashion ad, and Andre says so in a confessional.

A lot of time is spent on Tyler’s transformation. He reluctantly explains to the camera, “The body type thing is a little outdated, but it’s a decent template. I’m a mesomorph. That means all the work I’ve put into my body showed really great results. It’s really easy to bulk up. I lift, I put on muscle. I cut, I lose fat. Nice and simple.” The camera shows his body shrinking in on itself. His muscles are still there and very toned, but his frame goes from built to lean, giving him something between a runner’s build and a swimmer’s build. Even his neck gets smaller, making his face look less square.

Warren tells the camera, “My son would call him a twunk. That’s a twink who’s got some muscles.” He looks very pleased with himself for knowing the terminology.

Tyler continues his explanation. “Ectomorphs tend to have a naturally leaner frame and a really fast metabolism. I see it in my students all the time. Some of those kids could lift every day, and they would hardly see any results.” The camera in the confessional zooms out to show his new, leaner, more compact body. He takes a deep breath. “I guess that’s me now. At least I didn’t lose everything.” He flexes a bicep. “But it’ll take work just to maintain this muscle, let alone build any more. God, this sucks.”

The remaining transformations aren’t physical. Bradley tells the camera that he definitely feels different. “Right now, if I try to think of a hot person, I’d think of one of the guys here at the villa. Or Dante. Or I’ve got a few cute friends and classmates at home. I mean, I still think girls can be hot, but it hardly seems to matter when there are so many sexy guys out there.”

Harrison eyes Warren warily. “He just got another pheromone boost and I got increased sensitivity. Not great. But how do I stay away from him when he’s one of my better friends in the house?”

Sai casually moves through the room, watching for any effects caused by his new augmentation. He tells the camera, “Harrison has his guard up, but Marcus got pheromone sensitivity yesterday.” In the common room, he slowly walks past his target, glancing down. Marcus takes a deep breath and gets a dazed expression on his face. He tries to discreetly adjust himself, but Sai clocks it immediately. “It worked! I made him start chubbing up just from walking right in front of him.”

Dante says goodbye, and the men get ready for dinner. The vibe is different now. Marcus is no longer stand-offish. His newly improved looks seem to have immediately elevated his status in the house. Tyler seems less angry, but he’s more reserved than before. He’s still shirtless, though. Chris acts less anxious. He even flirts a little with Andre. He feels up the man’s newly enhanced chest, apparently not minding that it will cost him five points. Rory truly towers over everyone, and he seems to love his increased presence.

When Tyler and Harrison retire to their room, the air is charged. They can’t stop looking at each other as they get ready for bed. Finally, Harrison says, “Fuck it,” and walks right up to Bradley. He inhales deeply. “God, I can feel the pheromones messing with me,” he tells his roommate, “but I don’t mind.”

“When did you get so hot?” Bradley asks.

The two move even closer.

The scene cuts to the hot tub where Andre and Rory are hanging out. They have about as much space between them as they can in the moderately sized tub. Even sitting down and mostly submerged, Rory is obviously far larger than the other man. As Andre gets out and dries off, Marcus emerges onto the porch and gets in the hot tub. Rory and Marcus both steal covert glances at Andre’s ass and chest.

As soon as Andre goes inside, Rory asks Marcus, “So, any ideas who I should use my Free Pass on?”

Without hesitation, Marcus replies, “Me.” Rory’s eyebrows shoot up as high as they can go.

The shot changes to Dante King on the beach. “Things are heating up fast! How steamy will it get? Who will learn to use his augmentations as a strength? Who will succumb to lust? Oh, and what will happen when I change the rules for the augmentation wheel? Find out next time… on Alpha House: Turning Tides!”

“Previously on Alpha House: Turning Tides!” A montage catches viewers up on key moments. Tyler spins a touch sensitivity increase and later gets his whole body type changed. Rory lifts Warren off the ground. Andre and Rory get Free Passes. Harrison does a sexy dance. Bradley kisses Andre, succumbs to Dante’s kiss, and passionately makes out with Harrison. Sai tells the camera that he made Marcus chub up just by walking by. Marcus tells Rory to use the Free Pass on him. Harrison and Bradley move toward each other with longing in their eyes.

The scene repeats Harrison’s comment about Bradley’s pheromones and then seamlessly continues, launching the beginning of the episode. Bradley asks Harrison to dance for him. Harrison, dressed only in a pair of black boxer briefs, obliges. His moves are slow and sensual.

Over at the hot tub, Rory asks Marcus to explain himself. “I’m not happy about the extra ten points I gained from the winners’ wheel,” Marcus tells his ally. “Having the most points paints as much of a target on your back as having the least. Plus, I don’t want people to suspect our alliance. After I forfeited without you doing anything, the guys were asking questions. They would never suspect that I’d let you use your Free Pass on me. So I need you to kiss me, and we need to have witnesses.”

Rory is thoughtful. Eventually, he agrees. He tells the camera that Marcus’s reasoning makes sense.

In Harrison and Bradley’s room, Harrison inches closer to the younger man as he undulates and thrusts. Bradley looks like he’s about to be all over Harrison, but he takes a step back. He looks down at Harrison’s underwear. “I think you’re still overdressed,” he chides.

Without interrupting his rhythm, Harrison hooks his thumbs under the waistband of his boxer briefs and slides them down. A cleverly placed message bubble gives viewers a link to upgrade to the premium viewing subscription. If the viewer is already subscribed, the bubble shrinks and fades until Harrison’s nude form is fully visible. He’s completely hard, his narrow but very long cock jutting out as he continues to move his hips.

Bradley looks mesmerized, and he’s tenting his own boxer briefs. He steps forward and allows Harrison to grind on him. As Harrison leans closer, Bradley cups the other man’s chin in his hands and gives him a gentle kiss on the lips. The kiss doesn’t linger, but Harrison’s movements slow to a stop, and he just holds Bradley’s bare torso for a bit. Bradley whispers, “I am so sorry.”

A graphic shows the many point deductions that just happened.

Harrison: 40 points (-15—Getting naked, -5—Prolonged sensual touch, -10—Kissing)

Bradley: 55 points (-5—Prolonged sensual touch, -10—Kissing)

Bradley pulls away and regains some of his composure. “I’m not saying it wasn’t hot,” he explains. “It was. And you are. I just… I needed to get someone under 50 points. Even if I had to lose more points to do it. It was the only way I could think of to get some heat off me. And I knew you would…” He gestures at Harrison’s nude form and discarded boxer briefs.

At first, Harrison looks betrayed, but he manages a smile. “Good for you, playing the game,” he says with genuine respect. “And here I thought you’d be a pushover. I was getting worried about you, you know. I like you a lot, and I don’t want you to be the first one to go.”

“So you’re not mad?”

“Well… It wasn’t all just game playing, was it? I mean, please tell me it took some work not to just start making out with me.”

Bradley nods vigorously. “A lot of work. I promise. And… and I’m not exactly mad about seeing you naked.” He adjusts his underwear, which is still tented.

Harrison smirks. “Good. Just promise me this. If I don’t get to see your dick before one of us gets kicked off, you’ve gotta find me after this is all over and give me a show.”

Bradley blushes but smiles. “Deal.” In a confessional, he admits, “That’s the first time I ever looked at a dick like that. If I wasn’t trying to win, who knows what I would have done. Probably just about whatever he suggested.”

Outside the house, the sun rises over the villa. The title card appears and then fads as the scene shifts to inside the house. Rory wakes and stretches his long, muscular arms. As he walks through the house, he passes Sai, Andre, and Tyler, who are all exercising shirtless. As the camera focuses on each man, charts appear to remind the audience of their augmentations so far.

Rory
Charisma +4
Male Attraction +1
Height +4”

Sai
Pheromones +2 (Arousal Trigger)
Muscle Tone +3
Touch Sensitivity +2

Andre
Pheromones +1
Penis +2”
Libido +2
Pecs & Glutes +3

Tyler
Pheromones +1
Height -3”
Touch Sensitivity +3
Body Type: Ectomorph

Andre’s workout is clearly designed to draw attention to his improved assets. Rory’s gait slows, and his gaze lingers as he walks by. Tyler has clearly been forced to modify his routine to account for his smaller size. A few times, he grunts in frustration. His shorts barely stay up on his trim waist. Still, he refuses to stop.

“Yeah, I’m still shirtless,” Tyler says in a confessional. “Now that I’ve lost both height and mass, my shirts would just hang and look weird on me.” Although there’s simmering frustration in his tone, he no longer comes off as hostile. “Also… I had a realization when I woke up this morning.” He takes a deep breath. “I’ve been an idiot.”

The camera shows brief scenes of other guys in the house. Warren comes into the kitchen and chats with Andre, who’s just finished his workout. Rory sits near Sai, casually adjusting himself as he settles onto the couch. Harrison and Bradley, both still shirtless, emerge from their room, not even trying to keep any distance between them or hide their mutual attraction. Even Marcus is shirtless when he comes out of his room.

The shot returns to Tyler’s confessional. “When I think about the other guys, I can hardly tell who’s just playing the game and who’s really into it. And I guess that’s the point. I thought I was gonna walk in here with my alpha energy, and all these guys who just started noticing men were gonna fall all over me. I was just gonna stand around doing nothing and watch them all lose points.

“But out of all of us, I’m the one who looks completely different from when I walked in. I lost the things I thought they would want. If I want to win, I have to make the other guys lose points. I have to make them want me. If I want that prize package and a chance to get my muscles back, I’ll have to play the game.” He pauses, building his resolve. “Dude, I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I’ve gotta seduce these guys. Step one: pretend I’m not totally pissed off about losing my hard-earned body.”

Tyler finishes his workout and approaches Bradley, seemingly attempting to appear meek. “Hey, uh, could you do me a huge favor?” he asks.

Bradley keeps his expression neutral, but he tells the camera, “Tyler wants a favor. And he’s asking nicely. Either he’s messing with me, or a pig just got its wings.”

“Look, so… I’m not exactly used to…” he gestures vaguely at his body. “Do you have some shorts I could borrow? None of mine really fit.” He fidgets uncomfortably. He tells the camera, “I have to sell the idea that I’m more embarrassed than mad. That I’m willing to at least give this new body a try.”

Bradley appears to buy it. He offers Tyler two pairs of shorts and an extra pair of swim trunks that he had brought just in case. “I do kind of feel sorry for him,” Bradley admits. “I mean, he’s a dick, but those muscles didn’t come from nowhere. He obviously worked hard to get them. Of course, I would never tell him that. Maybe if he keeps acting nice, I’ll give him a little more support. Who knows, maybe he needed to be cut down to size?”

Chris is the last to wake up. He stands in only his white briefs, taking in his reflection in the mirror. A chart shows his augmentations so far.

Chris
Male Attraction +2
Libido +3
Prettiness +3

“I can’t say the changes are exactly what I would have picked,” Chris says, still examining his reflection. “But I can’t be too mad at it either. I never thought my appearance was very special. Would I have preferred ‘handsomeness’ over ‘prettiness?’ Well, yeah, but I’ll take what I can get.” He experimentally tosses his head, watching, his thick hair swish. He purses his lips and does his best to hit some flirty poses. “It could definitely be worse.”

Chris dons a simple pair of shorts but remains shirtless. In a confessional, he explains, “I saw the writing on the wall. Based on how fast everything changed in the last two days, I figured that everyone was going to skip shirts today. And I don’t want to be the odd one out.”

Warren immediately gravitates toward Chris. A chart shows Warren’s changes.

Warren
Charisma +1
Pheromones +5

The older man tells the camera, “Chris, I think you’re sweet, but you’re still an easy target. I know my pheromones are going to get you worked up, and you’re going to want to act on that sooner or later.”

After breakfast, Sai chats with Harrison and Bradley. Sai’s new pheromone effect is clearly affecting Harrison, who doesn’t even try to adjust his growing bulge. In a confessional, Sai notes, “Those two have been attached at the hip all morning. They got totally lost in that make out session yesterday. And they’re rooming together. Did they make out again last night before bed? I don’t know, but things have definitely changed between them.”

Sai splits off, and Bradley and Harrison silently glance down at each other’s bulges. Charts show their stats.

Bradley
Male Attraction +5
Prettiness +2
Pheromones +2

Harrison
Libido +1
Male Attraction +2
Pheromone Sensitivity +3

In the kitchen, Rory and Marcus do the dishes together. Rory stands just about exactly a foot taller than the other man, and he consistently brushes right up against his smaller housemate as he dries and puts away dishes. Marcus’s stats appear on the screen.

Marcus
Charisma +1
Pheromone Sensitivity +2
Male Attraction +2
Handsomeness +3

Marcus appears a bit flustered by the way Rory flaunts his physical presence. Warren and Andre pass by and exchange a knowing look. Marcus tells the camera, “Our strategy is definitely working. By the time Rory kisses me, the guys will all think just think he’s targeting me to get me off my game. I just have to remember my alliance with Sai too. I need to do something soon to show my loyalty to him.”

Dante King waltzes in wearing tiny white running shorts and a matching white tank that clings to his muscles. As he tells everyone to follow him to the wheel, everyone stares at his ass, even Tyler.

Chris is the first contestant into the room, and he immediately notes, “There’s only one wheel.”

Marcus chimes in, “And one of the panels has changed again.”

Dante grins wickedly. “Gentlemen. I hope you’re not getting too comfortable, because today, everything is changing.” The show cuts to commercial.

The show comes back with a slight rewind. “Today, everything is changing,” Dante tells the contestants. The men wear a mix of shock and apprehension on their faces. “First, you’ll notice that there’s no number wheel. Today, everything will automatically be worth Plus Two. Or Minus Two, if applicable. Which brings me to the second change. You will note that our revolving panel has once again changed.”

The camera zooms in on the wheel to show viewers the new panel: Inhibitions.

In a confessional, Chris says, “That could be really, really not good.”

Andre asks the camera, “How do they even make that happen?” He shrugs and adds, “Well, it’ll definitely make things more interesting.

“To clarify,” Dante says, “the possible augmentations today are: Male Attraction Plus Two, Pheromones Plus Two, Libido Plus Two, and Inhibitions Minus Two. Oh, and also… in Alpha House tradition, it’s the augmentation swap! You must give the augmentation you spin to a competitor.”

The group murmurs and chatters. Rory tells the camera, “This could make or break alliances. And it could definitely make some enemies.”

Dante isn’t done just yet. “And one more thing!” He produces the coin bag from yesterday’s challenge. “Since you’re picking who to give your augmentation to, it’s only fair that you spin in a random order. You’ll go back to alphabetical order next time.”

Dante reaches into the bag and picks Rory’s name. “I would have preferred to go in the middle,” Rory tells the camera. “Going first is too much power for my liking. Whatever I do will set the tone.” He spins the wheel, and it lands on Inhibitions. Rory’s confessional continues. “And now I have to give someone the first-ever lowered inhibitions augmentation. Well, it’s gotta be someone with a lot of points. It can’t be Marcus since we have an alliance. And Sai, Andre, and I have had an informal alliance ever since our team challenge win. That leaves…”

In the common room, Rory points and says, “Sorry, Warren.”

Warren just smiles and nods as though he expected this outcome. “It’s a smart move,” he tells the camera. In my mind, I’m an obvious target for lowered inhibitions because I’ve been playing the game well.”

Dante pulls out the next coin. “Tyler!” The others eye the newly lean man warily as he steps up to the wheel. He also lands on Inhibitions.

“I really want to get revenge on Andre or Harrison for beating me yesterday,” Tyler tells the camera. “But that’s exactly what everyone expects me to do. I need to act like I’ve turned over a new leaf. And besides, I’m trying to make nice with Harrison’s little boyfriend.” The camera shows Bradley. “I need to do whatever will make pretty much everyone happy. And that means…”

Tyler tells Dante, “I’m giving it to Rory.” Andre and Harrison breath sighs of relief. Bradley looks pleased.

Andre gets chosen to spin next, and he gets Libido. In his confessional, he says, “If I remember right, two other guys besides me already have libido boosts. Best to give it to one of them and pile it on.” He chooses Harrison.

“I can’t say I’m surprised,” Harrison tells the camera. “My horniness is obviously getting the best of me, and people are gonna notice.”

Dante pulls Chris’s coin out of the bag. Chris doesn’t look eager to spin, even though it’s not for himself. He lands on Male Attraction and gives it to Tyler. “He’s got about the same amount of points as me, and I feel like he’s close to cracking,” he explains to the camera.

Marcus goes next. He’s the first one to land on Pheromones. In his confessional, his extremely handsome face bears a deadly serious expression. “I’m playing with fire here. ‘Pheromones’ is the only positive augmentation on the wheel, so if I give it to Sai, that cements our alliance. But he’s already got enhanced pheromones, plus he got the arousal trigger effect. And I’m extra sensitive to pheromones. If I do this, I’ll definitely get hard every time I come close to him. I’ll be giving him a huge advantage over me. But alliances don’t mean anything without trust. And a good alliance can get you to the finale.”

Marcus chooses Sai, and the group is stunned. Sai tells the camera, “Alliance or no, I didn’t think he would do it. He just handed me a ton of power. The whole group is going to be hornier just because I’m in the house.”

Warren gives his own thoughts in a confessional. “That’s the first absolute sign of an alliance in the house. With Sai’s arousal trigger, there’s no way Marcus would do that without assurance.”

Dante calls Harrison’s name next. Harrison lands on Pheromones. “There’s only one name on my mind,” he tells the camera. “And I know it’s a terrible choice strategically, but I can’t help myself.” Several guys shake their heads when he says Bradley.

Dante announces that only Warren and Sai are left, and only Andre and Chris haven’t been picked. He reaches into the bag. “Sai, you’re up!”

Sai spins Libido. “They both already have libido boosts, but I can’t do that to my boy Andre.” He picks Chris, who looks resigned to his fate.

Warren steps up and jokes, “Hmm, I think I’ll pick Andre.” He spins the wheel. It comes to a stop on Libido.

In a confessional, Andre puts his head in his hands. “I’m still getting used to how big my boner is when I’m hard. I mean, two extra inches is kind of a lot. My first libido boost has been manageable enough, but a double boost could be pretty rough.”

The men receive their augmentations. Tyler scans the room as if forcing himself to take in each man’s body. “Yes, they’re hot,” he tells the camera through gritted teeth. “Okay? They are, and I know it. I know it in a way I didn’t before. Bradley and Chris have that prettiness upgrade, and it makes me want to kiss them. And Andre’s muscles are crazy. I have to acknowledge the attraction increase. If I try to ignore it, one of them will force the issue.”

Harrison, Chris, and Andre are all obviously turned on. Andre scrambles to adjust his extra-long member under his shorts. Chris looks like he’s imagining steamy scenarios in his head. Harrison stares at Bradley and licks his lips. A graphic shows their current totals.

Harrison: Libido +3

Andre: Libido +4

Chris: Libido +5

Bradley does his best not to look right at Harrison. “I made him lose so many points last night,” he tells the camera. “And now he’s looking at me all googly-eyed. At this rate, my pheromones plus his libido will send him packing, but I don’t want him to leave yet.” A graphic shows that Bradley and Sai are now both up to Pheromones +4.

Sai is standing close to Rory and Warren. He grins as his enhanced pheromones take effect and the other two shift their feet and adjust themselves. Rory tells the camera, “With Sai’s changes, I guess getting hard around the other guys is just going to be a part of life now. But I guess the inhibitions thing is affecting me, because I don’t really mind that much.” Warren echoes his sentiments.

Marcus appears to visibly relax as his inhibitions are lowered. In his confessional, he tells a different story. “Every time I think I’m gaining some control, I have another setback. In the moment, I’m just enjoying the experience, but as soon as I have a chance to think, I’m still my analytical self, and I’m frustrated that it’s harder for me to stay objective.”

As the men adjust to their newest augmentations, Dante King prepares to leave. “I’ll see you this afternoon for the challenge,” he tells them. “And be in your swimwear. You’re going in the water.”

After the host makes his exit, Andre motions for Rory to join him on the patio. As soon as they’re alone, “Andre asks, “Got any plans for your Free Pass?”

Rory looks down at the other man with a guarded expression. “Yeah, I have some ideas,” he tells Andre. “You?”

“Yeah, me too,” Andre admits. “I… I want to use it to make someone lose points, but also…”

“You want it to be a good kiss.”

“Exactly! It’s not just about points. I never kissed a guy before yesterday. Never wanted to. But that kiss with Bradley… it was pretty hot. The whole points system is about temptation. The Free Pass means I can just give in and enjoy it.”

Rory nods in comprehension. “Yeah, it’ll be strange but good to kiss a man. It might be really good.”

The two pause, watching each other silently. Clearly neither wants to give away the full extent of their strategy. Finally, Andre says, “I think the best plan is to try for both at the same time. Use it on a strong competitor, but also one you’re actually into.”

Rory tells the camera, “I think he just accidentally told me who he wants to kiss. I guess I’ll see if I’m right before too long.”

Inside the house, the guys hang out and get ready for lunch. Bradley and Harrison stay close until Harrison suddenly excuses himself. Sai clocks the reason immediately. “He’s had a stiffie for a while, and not just because of me.” He muses that Bradley is probably dying to join his roommate. “I guarantee he would if he wasn’t worried about losing points. At this rate, those two are gonna start dating after the show.”

Warren offers to help Marcus in the kitchen. As they start making lunch, the older man keeps finding excuses to brush by the more uptight one. “Whoops,” he chuckles. “Forgot to grab the salt!” Marcus is obviously getting uncomfortable. Every time Warren gets close, the normally controlled man’s breathing becomes shallow and his eyes become unfocused. Warren discloses his intentions in a confessional. “I’ve got a huge pheromone boost, and he’s got the extra sensitivity plus lowered inhibitions. I just have to make sure my own inhibition augmentation doesn’t get the best of me.”

Warren leans in close to get something out of a cabinet that’s right behind Marcus. His shoulder “accidentally” pushes into Marcus’s bare stomach as he reaches down into the lower cabinet. Marcus puts his hand on Warren’s shoulder, seemingly to gently push the other man away, but he doesn’t follow through. When Warren stands straight, suddenly even closer than before, Marcus’s hand still rests on his shoulder.

Slowly, Marcus’s hand strays to Warren’s back and then up toward the man’s neck. Warren’s breath matches Marcus’. They appear enthralled with each other. Marcus’s fingers caress Warren’s neck and trace his jawline. A graphic shows that he’s lost 5 points. He finally comes to his senses and takes a step back.

Warren just serenely smiles at his target. “You should really try letting yourself go completely sometime,” he suggests. “It’ll be good for you. You’re wound so tight, but I know you have an awful lot of carnal desires swirling around in you right now.”

Marcus scowls, an odd look on his recently upgraded face. “I can unwind as much as I want after I win.” They continue making lunch in silence.

After lunch, two scenes unfold in parallel. Andre follows Sai to his bedroom, while Rory and Marcus go out on the patio. Sai plops down on his bed and pats the space next to him, inviting the muscular man to sit. Andre jokes that he shouldn’t be in Sai’s room when he knows he’s going to get rock hard immediately, but he sits down anyway. Rory once again emphasizes the fact that he’s a full head taller than Marcus and stands overly close. Marcus covertly checks the large window and confirms that Chris, Tyler, Bradley, and Harrison all have a full view of the patio.

“Sai,” Andre whispers. “I love hanging out with you, but… it’s dangerous. You’re a really good-looking guy. You’re hot. And between your pheromones and my libido, it’s making me crazy.”

“They can’t hear us,” Rory tells Marcus, “but they have to believe it.” He picks Marcus up like he did Warren the day before. Inside, four heads whip toward the window.

Before Sai can react, Andre grabs his shoulders and kisses him hard. On the patio, Rory puts Marcus back down but immediately goes for a kiss. The show cuts to commercial.

The show returns with a replay of Andre and Sai’s kiss. In the common room, Chris, Tyler, Bradley, and Harrison all look out the window as Rory pulls away from his kiss with Marcus. Afterwards, Marcus is wide-eyed and breathless, and it doesn’t look like an act. Sai is similarly shaken, but then his eyes cloud over.

“You just used your Free Pass to make me lose points,” he accuses. “I thought we had each other’s backs.”

Andre is immediately defensive. “You’ve still got the same amount as me,” he points out. “I had to use it on someone who hadn’t lost any points yet.” Sai’s flat stare speaks volumes. “Look, I’ve been wanting to kiss you since day one,” Andre blurts. “I’m sorry I made you lose points, but I just needed to know how it would feel.”

That confession gets through to Sai. “You wanted to kiss me that bad, huh?” Andre nods emphatically. Sai leans in close, and Andre’s face shows that the pheromones are scrambling his senses. “It was a good kiss. But it did cost me points. Let’s just say you’re going to owe me. And I might need you to make it up to me tonight.”

“Okay,” Andre breathes. It’s barely even a whisper. His eyes are wide. A hand goes to his very large bulge. “God, you make me so hard. So fucking…”

Sai realizes Andre’s brain is temporarily fried and gently suggests that the other man go take care of himself before the challenge. Andre hurries out of the room.

Sometime later, Dante King leads the contestants to the beach where various areas have been cordoned off for the challenge. Dante wears a blue and white striped Speedo, contrasting with the players’ board shorts and swim trunks. He positions himself in front of a large wooden board that bears every player’s name, each painted in a different color.

“This is a team challenge,” Dante announces. A few groans can be heard. “Please arrange yourselves in teams of three.” Just as the men are about to move, he adds, “Oh, and to keep things interesting, pick teammates who you were not teamed up with in the first challenge.”

Bradley immediately grabs Rory’s wrist. Rory narrates the scene. “Before I even know what’s happening, Bradley takes me by the wrist and drags me over to Harrison.” He huffs and frowns. “I guess I’m on a team with the lovebirds.”

Sai jerks his head toward Marcus, who trots over to join him. Warren slides up next to them. Tyler happens to already be next to Andre, and he takes a step closer to the muscular man. Chris looks a little lost. He soon realizes that there’s only one place for him to go, so he joins Andre and Tyler.

Dante looks the teams over and nods with satisfaction. “In this challenge, each team member will take on a different task with the goal of gathering treasure. He points to a pier a short way down the beach. A camera shows several small platforms floating in the water not far from the end of the pier. “One player will run down to the pier, swim to the treasure rafts, and retrieve locked chests one at a time. There are four rafts, each with a chest for each team. Different chests have different numbers of locks. The more locks, the harder to open, but the more treasure you’ll find inside.

“And how do you open the treasure chests? Each chest comes with a clue: a question about your competitors.” He gestures at the board behind him. “The correct keys will be attached to lanyards that match the colors your names are written in here. And how do you find the keys? Well, that’s up to the remaining two team members. One will wade in a designated area of the shallows searching for keys that have been attached to stakes under the water. The other will use a metal detector and a shovel to dig up keys that have been buried on a marked section of the beach.

“You may work together to answer the questions and open the chests, but the other tasks must be completed separately. Team strategy will be very important here. You will only have 15 minutes, so you won’t have time to retrieve all four chests, find all nine keys, and answer all of the questions. Choose your priorities wisely.

“And what are the stakes, you might ask? The middle team will be safe. The team who gathers the least treasure will spin the losers’ wheel. Twice.” That gets the desired reaction from the contestants. “The team with the most treasure will spin the winners’ wheel… and will earn thirty points to share between them as they wish.”

“As we wish?” Sai echoes.

“As you wish. You can split them evenly, give all the points to one team member, or whatever else fits your strategy. And you will want to use those points wisely. Because…” The men wait expectantly. “Tomorrow morning, if no one has yet hit zero, the player with the fewest points will be eliminated.” That sends shocked gasps through the group. The players with lower points look around nervously.

Bradley tells the camera, “Last night, I wanted Harrison to be in danger to get some heat off of me, but now I can’t imagine him going home. I’m really worried for him.”

The teams split up and quickly begin to strategize. Bradley asks Rory, “You’re swimming, right?”

The towering man nods. “I never swam in the ocean before, but I swim plenty at a lake back home.” Harrison offers to take the shallows, leaving Bradley to tackle the sand.

Tyler asks Andre to do the physical tasks. “I doubt I have the same endurance as you now,” he concedes.

In a confessional, Andre gives the camera a flat stare. “Tyler is suddenly a model team player. And he’s being honest about his decreased athleticism. I smell a rat.”

Sai’s presence is obviously a distraction for his teammates, who keep adjusting their swimsuits. Sai suggests that he should do the athletic tasks due to his improved muscles. Warren is as affable as ever, but firmly asserts that he is the best choice. He runs just about every morning, and the jog to and from the pier will be just as important as the swimming. Marcus is uncharacteristically quiet. Warren tells the camera he needs Sai and Marcus to stay apart as much as possible so that Marcus can focus on the task at hand.

The challenge begins, and Rory, Andre, and Warren take off toward the pier. Andre runs the fastest, but Warren tells the camera that it’s a short-sighted approach. Slow and steady wins the race. He and Rory both jog rather than running, but Rory’s long legs give him an incredibly long stride, keeping him close behind Andre.

Harrison, Chris, and Sai each wade into their section of the water, while Bradley, Tyler, and Marcus all grab their metal detectors. Marcus tells the camera that as long as he’s not near other players, he has a clear head. He’ll be the fastest with the metal detector because he’s the most methodical. Bradley is the first to find a key. It has a yellow lanyard, which matches his own name on the board.

At the pier, Andre and Rory are already in the water, while Warren is about to jump in. The two larger men each swim out to the farthest platform and grab a chest with three locks. The chests are large and unwieldy. Warren goes for one with two locks instead. All three scramble back onto the pier in close succession.

By the time the men get back to the beach, each team has found a few keys. The key finders pause their quest so that each team can ponder their question together. The two chests with three locks have the same question. Rory reads it aloud. “Which player on each team is the most hung?”

In a confessional, Harrison groans, “Of course. These questions are going to get in our heads. As if we didn’t already all have dick on the brain, now we have to think about dick to win the challenge.”

Everyone knows Andre has the biggest dick on his team thanks to the augmentation. Unfortunately, no one has found the key that represents him yet. “How about on our team?” Rory asks.

Harrison says, “Well, you have the height augmentation,” but Bradley pointedly looks down at Harrison’s bulge.

Rory looks between the two men. “I’m going to trust your judgement on this one. I get the feeling we’re safer saying Harrison.” Bradley blushes a very bright pink. “Harrison it is. Okay, look, maybe we should get back to opening this chest later? I’ll go grab another chest, and you keep finding keys.” The other two nod, and the team disperses.

Chris and Tyler have somehow gotten into an argument over what order to do things. Chris wants to focus on getting all the keys, while Tyler insists they need an answer for the question so they can try using the correct keys as soon as they find them. Andre rolls his eyes and follows behind Rory in pursuit of another treasure chest. He tells the camera, “I knew it. He can pretend all he wants, but he doesn’t actually know how to be a team player.”

Warren’s team has a different question. The older man reads, “Which two players still have one hundred points?”

Marcus takes a few steps back in an attempt to keep his head clear while he thinks. He looks back and forth between Warren and Sai. “Last I knew, it was the two of you plus Rory.”

Sai looks away. He tells the camera, “I didn’t want to have to reveal this so soon.” On the beach, he tells his teammates, “It’s Warren and Rory. Andre used his Free Pass on me earlier today.” Marcus acts surprised, and Warren says he appreciates Sai’s honesty, but both men tell the camera that they had already guessed that Andre would kiss Sai. They don’t have the right keys yet, so they set the chest aside for now.

A montage shows the three teams progressing in fits and starts. Tyler finds two keys in the sand but then scours the area for a while without finding more. Bradley explains that their respective swaths of sand are larger than they look. Marcus seems to relish working by himself and is full of confidence as he finds his third key.

A similar scene unfolds in the water. “We can’t see anything in this ocean water,” Chris says. “We’re looking for a handful of little stakes, just kind of feeling around. And I keep losing my place when waves come in. I get turned around and get afraid I missed a spot.” Chris looks around, seeming lost in his little section of ocean water. The show cuts to commercial.

The show returns with Sai and Harrison simultaneously finding keys in the water. By the time Rory brings a second treasure chest back, his team has most of their keys. He hurries back out to the pier and leaves his teammates to read the question about who still has one hundred points. Bradley correctly guesses Rory and Warren and uses their keys to open the chest. He runs over to Dante.

The host shouts, “The first treasure has been found! Bradley, Harrison, and Rory are the only team with points!” The other teams redouble their efforts.

By the time Andre retrieves his second chest, he’s looking winded. He reads the question. “If you lined up all the players from youngest to oldest, who would be in the middle?”

He and Chris try to ponder the question, but Tyler barks, “That’s too complicated! Go get another chest. We’ll see if that one’s easier, and then we’ll get back to the others.”

Chris gripes in a confessional. “He’s just mad because he’s found the least keys out of everyone so far. He was pretending to be adapting to the competition, but he’s a bad actor.”

Warren retrieves a chest that bears a different clue. Sai reads it for the team. “Which contestant has the biggest total libido boost so far?” He looks questioningly at Marcus. “Well? You’re the best at remembering everything.”

Marcus grits his teeth. “Go stand somewhere else so I can actually think.” Sai shoots an exasperated glance at Warren, but he obliges. Marcus shakes his head and shoulders as if physically shaking off the effect of Sai’s pheromones. “The three options are Chris, Harrison, and Andre,” he tells Warren.

“Well, we have all three keys,” Warren points out, “so I’m just going to start trying them in the lock.” He tries Chris’s key first, and the lock turns. He runs the chest to Dante while the other two go back to looking for keys.

Another montage shows Tyler nearly giving up in frustration, Bradley triumphantly finding keys, Andre pausing to catch his breath as he tries to carry a chest back from the pier, and Rory huddling with his team trying to answer questions.

Harrison starts trying different key combinations for the triple lock. He’s sure that Andre and himself are the correct answers for the most hung, with only leaves Sai, Warren, or Marcus. “It’s Marcus!” he calls out as the lock turns. He tells the camera, “Can’t say it’s too surprising. Remember that old term, BDE? Marcus definitely has that. But then, so do Sai and Warren, if I’m being honest.”

Dante finally announces that time is up. It’s unclear how well the teams really did due to chaotic editing. Before Dante announces the team rankings, he gives the answers to the treasure questions. “The player with the biggest total libido boost so far,” he says, “is Chris.” Chris turns red. “The player with the median age is Sai. No one answered that correctly. The two players with one hundred points are Warren and Rory. All three teams earned treasure for that question. And the most hung member of each team is: Harrison, Andre, and Marcus.”

“I don’t mind them knowing,” Marcus tells the camera. “Someone’s going to want to see it eventually. Add that to my handsomeness increase, and I’d like to think it makes me more desirable.”

Dante gestures toward three small piles of gold and silver coins behind him. “Today’s winning team is… Bradley, Rory, and Harrison!” Bradley and Harrison both breathe big sighs of relief. “And the losing team is… Andre, Tyler, and Chris. That means that Sai, Marcus, and Warren will not be spinning any more wheels today.”

In a confessional, Andre is dejected. “This is my first challenge loss. I’ve been pretty much dominating so far. But Tyler handled being on a team exactly how I expected him to, and Chris is Chris. With them as my teammates, did I really have a chance?”

The group returns to the patio where the winners’ and losers’ wheels have been set up. “First things first,” Dante intones. “Winners, how do you want to divide your points?”

The team huddles up. Rory whispers, “I obviously don’t need any points. Do you two want to split fifteen and fifteen?” Bradley looks at Harrison, unsure. Harrison struggles to focus.

Harrison tells the camera, “Bradley’s pheromones are getting to me again. Really bad. Since I have the fewest points, I kind of don’t want to split evenly, but I also don’t want Rory to know how far behind I am. And my head is spinning. I want to see them both naked. Especially Bradley.”

Harrison and Bradley both keep their mouths shut. Rory tells Dante, “I’m not taking any points. Bradley and Harrison will take fifteen points each.” His teammates nod in affirmation.

A graphic appears showing the audience the three men’s points.

Rory: 100 points

Bradley: 70 points

Harrison: 55 points

“All right, that makes your current point totals…” The men wait with bated breath. “Just kidding! We’re going to keep you in the dark until the point reveal and elimination tomorrow morning. I’ve got to keep you all on your toes.”

In a confessional, Sai wordlessly rolls his eyes.

“Now, time for the winners’ wheel! Bradley, step right up!”

Bradley steps forward and spins. The colors blur. It cuts to commercial.

After the break, Dante reads Bradley’s result. “Muscle Mass, Plus Two!” Bradley heads back looking pleased. He tells the camera, “That was my first time spinning the winners’ wheel, and it felt pretty great!”

Rory goes next. Dante booms, “Penis, Plus Three Inches!”

“Three,” Andre breathes.

Rory shows nothing on his face as he and Harrison trade places. Harrison runs a hand through his black hair before he spins. He gets Self-Control, Plus Three. He tells the camera, “Well, it’s not very glamorous, but it sounds really useful. Especially if I want to keep hanging out with Bradley.”

Next is the losers’ wheel. Andre spins first. Dante chuckles as he silently reads the pie piece. Then, he calls out, “Golden Retriever Energy.” Some of the guys laugh.

“Not sure exactly what that means, but okay,” Andre mutters. He takes his second spin.

Dante reads, “Archetype: Himbo!” The host produces a cue card and starts reading. “Archetypes are a new feature on the wheels. They consist of several small changes that push the recipient in a particular direction. These spots will remain on the wheel, so a player can possibly land on them multiple times, stacking the effects.” He gives the players a moment to take it in and then continues. “The himbo augmentation consists of: Muscle Definition, Plus One; Pecs and Glutes, Plus One; Inhibitions, Minus One; and assorted behavior augmentations.”

Andre looks very nervous as he moves back toward the group. Tyler spins next. Dante revels in calling out, “Height, Minus Three Inches!” Tyler obviously wants to curse. He just barely holds himself back. After his second spin, Dante gives his signature Cheshire cat grin. “Archetype: Twink!”

Tyler stomps away from the wheel. In a confessional, he lets loose. “This is some bullshit. I’m keeping it together in front of everyone. Sort of. But inside, I’m fuming. This game is just bent on stripping me of everything. Well, fine. Do it. I am a winner. I will find a way.”

Dante helpfully explains the specifics of Tyler’s augmentation. “The twink augmentation consists of: Prettiness, Plus One; Muscle Mass, Minus One; Male Attraction, Plus One; and assorted behavior augmentations.”

Chris is the last one to go. He spins Deference, Plus Two and Intimacy Skill, Plus Three. He tells the camera, “The deference thing really concerns me. I’ve never exactly been a leader. After this, will the other guys just be able to wrap me around their little finger?”

The men head into the house to receive their augmentations. Marcus tell the camera, “I’ll have my eyes on Tyler and Andre. I feel like those archetype augmentations will be the most extreme changes so far. Especially since they’re both getting another augmentation at the same time.”

Marcus, Sai, and Warren are all bystanders as the others change. The camera gets a close-up of Andre as his augmentations take effect. His body relaxes even as his impressive abs tighten further and his pecs and ass grow a little larger. He grins lazily, but his eyes show moments of being very alert. “It’s… it’s weird, bro,” Andre says in a confessional. “Like, I feel totally chill but also really excited. And… and I know I’m talking kinda different, but like, how else would I talk?”

Much ado is made about Tyler’s transformation. The former jock shrinks even further, making him easily the shortest member of the group. As he shrinks in height, his muscles get even smaller too. His eyes change, and his angry frown turns into a soft-lipped pout. His expression becomes defiant, daring the others to say something. It’s undermined by the way he unconsciously shifts his weight and puts his hand on his hip.

Next to Tyler, Bradley suddenly sprouts six-pack abs. His arms, chest, and legs all grow a bit. Warren tells the camera, “It almost feels as if Tyler’s muscles got taken and given to Bradley. Bradley has officially become the new resident twunk.”

Bradley is enthralled by his new muscles. Tyler glowers.

Rory gasps as his change takes hold. He’s obviously already hard, and his bulge curves around toward his hip as it grows. “I just grew by half,” he breathes in a confessional. “In less than a minute, it grew by half its original size. I was always thick down there, but the length was pretty average.” He tugs at the waistband of his too-small swim trunks and takes a good look at himself. “I am not average down there anymore.”

Harrison tests his new upgrade by walking over to Sai. “This is amazing!” he tells the camera. “I get hard like normal, but I don’t feel an immediate urge to shuck my shorts and start stroking. Seriously, that’s how I’ve felt most of the time since this morning.”

In Chris’s confessional, he’s chagrined. He tells the camera, “All of a sudden, I get the feeling that I would be really good at giving a blow job. Among other things. That could be a really good thing in the real world, but in the game… Well, I can see why it’s on the losers’ wheel. Add in the deference augmentation, and all the guys will be asking me to show them what ‘Intimacy Skill’ means.” He shakes his head and sighs. “And I don’t know how many times I can say no before I break down and just do it.”

Dante waves goodbye. “Enjoy your evening, gentlemen. I’ll see you in the morning. And then we’ll be saying a permanent goodbye to one of you. Good luck!”

The guys all change back into regular shorts. Bradley and Andre both get caught up in examining their changed bodies in the mirror. They each flex and hit a few poses. Andre murmurs, “Damn, I look good. Hella good.” He bounces his pecs and grins.

Tyler is barely even big enough for the shorts Bradley gave him. He purses his lips as he inspects his shorter, slimmer form. “Uggghhhh,” he groans dramatically. “This sucks.” His voice isn’t higher, but his former alpha affect is gone, replaced by a new, sassier affect. He tells the camera, “I don’t even care about getting my muscles back anymore. Or my height, or being straight. I’m just going to win out of spite.”

Before long, Warren is getting the grill ready. He asks if anyone wants to help, and Andre immediately volunteers. He is very eager. Chris whispers to Marcus, “There’s that golden retriever energy.” Marcus nods.

Tyler struts into the kitchen. He is noticeably smaller than everyone else now. In a confessional, Rory admits, “He’s weirdly cute like this. If only he could get rid of his anger issues.”

Andre runs around, helping Warren on the patio and helping in the kitchen. He seems a little scatterbrained and has to be reminded what he’s helping with. His rather large ass bounces under his shorts as he passes in and out of the kitchen. Sai is mesmerized. Warren announces that the bratwursts are done, and Andre lets out a “Whoo!”

Warren seems amused. “You’re acting awfully different this evening,” he tells the younger man.

“I… I know,” Andre admits. “But also… like, it’s just natural. Normal. I feel so energized! Like I could run a mile! And work out a ton and show off.” He blushes. “Yeah, I’d love to show off for you guys.”

Warren puts his hand on Andre’s bulbous pec. “Would you now?” The show cuts to commercial.

When the show returns, Warren’s fingers are exploring the curve of Andre’s newly enhanced pectoral muscles. A graphic appears: Warren: 95 points (-5—Prolonged sensual touch). Warren can’t seem to stop himself, and Andre looks proud and pleased. As the scene unfolds, Warren narrates, “I guess it was only a matter of time before the lowered inhibitions got me in trouble. Being right in front of him and knowing he’s so eager to show off now… I just can’t help myself. I’m still not used to getting turned on my muscles. Or a handsome face. Or… well, let’s just say I’m still adjusting.”

The men gather for dinner, and afterwards they disperse again. Andre asks Chris about his new intimacy skill with genuine curiosity. Chris awkwardly lied that he hasn’t noticed anything different. Before Andre can press the issue, he’s distracted by the sight of Harrison and Bradley heading to the hot tub. He tells the camera, “They’ve got a lot of increased male attraction. They’ll appreciate my body for sure!”

Marcus covertly arranges a meeting with Rory and Sai. He becomes distracted as soon as Sai is near, and he backs a few feet away to keep his head clear. He tells the camera, “It’s time for my next strategic gambit.” Marcus explains that he has alliances with both of the other men and suggests that they make a three-way alliance. “We help each other to the end, get rid of the competition, and then battle it out for the win.”

Rory immediately says, “I was wondering when you were going to tell me. That move to give Sai the special pheromones wasn’t exactly subtle.”

Sai eyes Rory appraisingly. “You could be really tough competition if you make it to the end,” he admits. “But I think we could make a strong alliance for now. If the three of us all agree to this, we’ll make up almost half the house after tomorrow’s elimination.”

Rory nods. “That could be very useful. So, if we’re going to do this… Do we have someone in mind who needs to go?”

The three agree that they might as well keep Chris around. He’s going to keep losing points all on his own. Similarly, Tyler is a ticking time bomb. Warren is out of the question for now. He’s playing the game well, and he won’t just be tempted to lose a ton of points. Either Bradley or Harrison surely has the fewest points right now.

Sai boldly suggests, “There is one frontrunner who’s vulnerable right now. Someone that I can easily influence.”

Andre sits in the hot tub, his huge chest proudly on display. Bradley and Harrison are both openly staring at the muscular man. Harrison tells the camera, “Even my new self-control has its limits.

Right now, my libido is competing with my control, and I’m not sure which one’s winning.” He stands up to leave, and soon the other two men are also getting out and drying off.

In one of the common rooms, Chris, of all people, is consoling Tyler about his changes. “I know it’s a far cry from what you’re used to,” he tells the smaller man, “but there are perks to being cute.” Tyler bristles at the word, but he doesn’t say anything. “And you at least have a level of confidence I never had. I bet you could get a guy to fall for you, easy. You just have to try.”

In a confessional, Tyler asks, “When did Chris turn into my therapist?” He admits, “He’s not totally off base. I mean, he’s got a point. I’m still not really playing the game, am I? I don’t really want any of the guys to be into me. But I need them to be if I’m going to make them lose points. Ugh, how have I fallen so low that Chris is giving me advice?”

Andre heads toward his room, still slightly damp. He runs into Sai in the hall. Sai smirks and slowly looks him up and down. “Remember when I said you would owe me?” he asks. Andre adjusts his large bulge. He’s obviously already rock hard. “Follow me.” The nascent himbo obeys.

In the shared bedroom, Bradley nervously shifts his weight from foot to foot. “Harrison,” he begins. The other man turns to face him. “I’m sorry about last night.”

“Huh?” Harrison is obviously confused.

“How I tempted you into losing all those points.”

Harrison frowns. “Stop. I already told you we were cool.”

Bradley continues as if Harrison didn’t speak. “After I did so bad in yesterday’s challenge, I thought all eyes would be on me. I thought everyone would be trying to make me lose points today, and that’s why I wanted you to have even less. But that didn’t even happen. No one even flirted with me all day. I mean, besides you. I did all that last night for nothing.”

Harrison steps closer. “It was not for nothing,” he insists. “I… it made me feel really good. I liked stripping down for you. It was a brand new experience, wanting to do that for a guy, and I’m glad it was for you.”

Bradley blushes. “I’m glad,” he whispers. Louder, he says, “Anyway, as far as I can tell, you should have fifteen points less than me.” Harrison doesn’t respond but is obviously wondering where this is going. “I don’t know what’ll happen tomorrow if two people are tied for the lowest points, but at least then I would know that whatever happens, it’s fair.” Harrison’s eyes widen. Bradley unbuttons his shorts and begins to swivel his hips.

“Bradley—”

The blond twunk continues his mini strip tease. His shorts fall to the ground, and he steps out of them. “Remember what you said last night about seeing my dick? Well, it one of us gets kicked off, at least you’ll know you got to see it. Keep this mental image for your spank bank.”

By the time Bradley is out of his underwear, he’s half hard. He strokes himself a few times so that Harrison can get the full effect. Harrison is breathing heavily and rubbing his bulge. Bradley tells him, “Now go take care of yourself. Privately, so neither of us risks losing any more points.” He does one last hip thrust and feels up his newly muscled body.

“Thank you,” Harrison breathes before darting toward the bathroom.

In Sai’s room, the two men stand close, gazing at each other’s bodies. Sai raises his arms and commands, “Take it in.”

Andre is clearly already addled by the other man’s pheromones. He breathes deeply through his nose. As he breathes out, his eyes lose focus. “Duuuude,” he sighs. “I shouldn’t… I shouldn’t…”

“But you want to, don’t you?” Sai asks. He doesn’t wait for an answer. “Flex for me, big guy.”

Andre’s tented shorts twitch when he hears “big guy.” He gets a cocky smirk on his face, although his eyes are still heavy-lidded. He puts his hands behind his head and starts showing off. He goes through all the sorts of poses that he usually does for social media, but there’s no more homoerotic subtext. It’s blatant. Sai rubs his own bulge, and Andre gives a satisfied grunt.

“Strip for me, big guy.”

Andre only hesitates for the briefest moment. Soon, his extra-long cock is free and bobbing in front of him. He stands there, seemingly waiting for Sai to tell him what to do next. Sai takes in the sight of the nude figure in front of him. The room is silent.

The shot switches to Dante King standing on the beach. “Just how far will Andre and Sai go? Who will be the first contestant to go home? Which players are about to receive mystery gifts, and what do the gifts mean? What will happen when I introduce a brand new bonus wheel? Find out next time… on Alpha House: Turning Tides!”

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