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Chapter Text

No one, especially not Odysseus himself, expected for him to undergo a late Presentation a few years into the war.

Even more unexpected was the fact that he went from a Beta to an Omega, a possibility no one thought possible.

Sometimes, Odysseus wondered if things would've turned out different had he remained a Beta; Had he stayed Beta then perhaps some of those he assumed trustworthy wouldn't have betrayed him, wouldn't have spilled the secret of his Designation to the beasts that invaded his palace. 

Perhaps then he wouldn't have taken the most drastic solution to escape the fate that awaited him the moment word came of the Ithacan Queen and their fleet's death. 

Things should've been different, being what he was he should've been  treasured, but what should have been no longer mattered. 

His eyes closed with a sigh, a silent hope burning within that the Fates would be kind enough to allow himself to be reunited with his love. 

When his eyes opened again, it was to stormy skies and turbulent waters. 

The smell of the ocean was strong, waves rushing up and falling onto the boat deck he now realized he laid on.

Where was he? 

This… Wasn't the Underworld he expected to be in. 

Subconsciously his nose twitched, becoming aware of familiar scents beneath the otherwise domineering smell of seawater. 

His confusion grew.

Those were the scents of some of his soldiers, ones that had gone to war with his Penelope; Soldiers who were deemed dead along with their Queen. 

Then, why – how? 

His eyes lit up, holding onto a nearby wall to get onto his feet.

Had he died only to end up in the past? Did this mean that he would get to be with his Penelope again; Even if this was when everyone died, at least this time the two of them would die together. 

He froze, all too aware of the fact that the ship he was on had settled down, the storm dying as the ocean waters stilled. 

It was far too calm and he pressed himself against the wall as he peered around and caught sight of the large being sat astride an equally large black equine.

Poseidon? 

How had Penelope and their fleet incurred Poseidon's wrath? 

“ODYSSEUS OF ITHACA!” 

Wait, why was Poseidon calling for him?! 

“I know this ship is yours, King of Ithaca. Come out before I get impatient.”

The Sea God didn't seem to be looking to him despite demanding his presence, something that he attributed to the other not quite knowing where he was on the ship.

Not even a minute passed when frightened screams sounded somewhere off to the side, “Captain!” 

He looked over in time to see a large wave crashing against the hull of the other ship. Not enough to cause damage – yet – but a warning. 

Something within him flared, the obvious changes in the scents of the crew he couldn't see evoking a change in his mood and a need as more screams sounded from another of the fleet's ships. 

“Odysseus of Ithaca, my patience is wearing thin.”

Poseidon stirred up a few more waves, targeting a few more of the Ithacan King's ships, reveling in the screams and cries of Beta and Alphas alike as they called for their captain that had yet to appear. 

Then he smelled it, a pleasant scent of olive and hyacinth that spread out and covered the entire fleet in its soothing and calming notes. 

The Sea God's eyes narrowed, his gaze falling on the man that had appeared at the front of the center ship nearest to him. 

“You –”

There was a trace of defiance within heterochromatic hues of brown and gold, their owner staring up at him without a hint of fear.

It was him the scent from before came from, a large pair of golden wings whose feathers were edged in silver spread out behind him as if to shield the remaining crew behind them. 

“Who are you?” Poseidon's horse fell back into the sea in which it came from, he himself drawing closer to the smaller male. 

“Am I not who you seek, Sea God?” The Ithacan King's chin lifted, “I am Odysseus, King of Ithaca.”

Chapter Text

The male standing before Poseidon was smaller in height than most he had seen with a slighter frame, a detail made more obvious by the large pair of wings outstretched behind him. 

The other was also far prettier than a mortal should be, a faint glow lighting up bi-coloured eyes that stared up at him fearlessly beneath a fringe of dark bangs. 

“You are Odysseus? ” Poseidon smirked, “You look nothing like I thought you would and you definitely do not look like someone who went up against a Cyclops and won.

“The Cyclops who, might I remind you, was my son!”

Cyclops, how in the world? To think that said Cyclops was also Poseidon's son – 

Odysseus couldn't blame the immortal for his anger if such was the case, but at the same time… 

If Penelope had been involved in the same situation, was it worth the death of an entire fleet of twelve ships? 

Were six hundred men and his mate really an even trade? 

He knew Poseidon was a God, and to Gods the lives of mortals didn't hold much weight compared to themselves and theirs but –

“Great Sea God Poseidon –“ He took a step forward, “For the harm that befell your son, I am truly sorry.”

“You're sorry and yet, it doesn’t seem as though it’s something you regret. ” There was anger edging Poseidon’s response, but to the surprise of the hundreds of crew members watching, the anger remained in his words only, “Why else would you blind him and leave your name behind?  Don't even try telling me that you were being merciful because sight was all my son had and now that it's gone, what will he do?

“You should have killed him instead of leaving him to suffer a fate worse than death!”

Odysseus could hear the pain in the words Poseidon spoke, could see true anguish within the Sea God's eyes – the same shade of blue as Penelope's - and his own gaze softened in turn. 

He drew his wings in, folding them against his back and stepping forward, falling to one knee before the immortal and bowing his head. 

“Poseidon, God of the Seas, the words you speak are true. Regardless of the reasoning behind it, the choice to leave your own so grievously wounded yet alive was a solution that never should've been an option.”

His head lifted, tilting slightly. 

“Great One, if you don't mind my asking, are you not able to heal your son?”

For a moment silence met the Ithacan King's words, Poseidon staring at the smaller male before him. 

There was the sound of shifting waters splashing onto the deck, the Sea God landing atop it to stand in front of the kneeling man amidst fearful cries of the watching crew. 

“Stand, for there is no need for you to bow to me, little Omega.” His anger dissipated, Poseidon's voice was gentle, almost doting, and he waited until the other was standing straight once more before answering Odysseus's question, “Polyphemus is a Cyclops, a monster, therefore unable to be healed with divine means.“

He watched as the other seemed to pull a small bottle from thin air, its contents a clear liquid with the faintest hint of shimmering gold when light hit it at a certain angle.

“I swear on the River Styx that this can heal even the most grievous of wounds with just a few drops.”

“Is that so, little Omega?  And you are willing to give such a precious item to me? ” Poseidon took the proffered bottle, observing it closely, “Would it not be better to keep it should your crew or yourself need it later?”

“Would you be willing to let our fleet go in exchange?

Poseidon laughed, reaching his free hand down and lifting the Omega’s chin with a finger, “For you, little Omega, I will forgive the transgression.” He heard a murmuring among the other humans, head lifting and gaze meeting the sharper gaze of another set of heterochromatic eyes before returning to those before him, “We shall meet again, Odysseus of Ithaca.”

There was a splash as Poseidon returned to his domain, a surge of water rising up among the fleet’s ships and pushing them in the opposite direction of the Land of the Giants.

It took a moment before everyone realized that the Sea God had gone and had also, it seemed, chosen to give them a guiding hand in returning to their original course.

Cheers broke out among all the other ships in relief and celebration though it was a bit quieter on their Captain’s as its crew realized that the Captain that had faced off Poseidon was not their's.

“Thank you.” The other Odysseus, while still shorter than most men, was both taller and larger in stature than his Omega counterpart. 

He stopped before the other, registering the faint trace of pheromones of the same scent from before that had helped snap him out of his earlier fugue state, “So, Omega, hm?”

His own pheromones subconsciously released their scent of oak and lotus as though to draw the Omega in.

Odysseus was, after all, an Alpha; He had no problem submitting to his Alpha mate and not once even considered leaving the other for another but something about this Omega –

“So, you really let some monster live with knowledge of who you were?” Omega Odysseus looked at him, unimpressed, “You can argue that you didn’t think anything would come from doing so but had things gone differently, all the men and yourself could’ve died.”

Like my Penelope.

His eyes closed in remembered pain of when he first received the news; While there was nothing he could do for her, at least here the situation ended differently.

Chapter Text

Night had fallen, the Ithacan fleet of ships steadily making their path through the sea, nothing but a seeming endless stretch of calm waters around them. 

“I have never seen the seas this calm before.” Odysseus remarked, making his presence known to his Omega counterpart as he joined him at the ship's bow. 

Said Omega hummed in response, lips curving in a small smile, “Isn't it beautiful, though? With the moon and stars reflecting off its surface, it looks as though we're sailing amongst the skies themself.”

Odysseus, distracted by the other's appearance under the moonlight: “Yes, beautiful.”

Unaware of the Alpha's admiring look, the Omega: “This is the first time I've been able to see the sea beyond the shorelines of Ithaca in over a decade. I hope it isn't the last.”

Silence descended upon the pair for a few breath’s time before Odysseus broke it. 

“For the record, I do know what I said to the Cyclops wasn't the smartest move but I don't regret what I did to him.”

He gazed out at the sea as he continued, tone flat and lacking emotion, “I admit we made a mistake but the moment it was made apparent we apologized and offered him a gift in compensation, which he accepted.

“All we wanted by then was to leave but he –“

His eyes darkened, hands clenching into fists as his side, “He attacked us, managed to strike a few men down with his club. He struck down Polites –“ 

Beside him he felt the Omega tense. 

“– Somehow we were lucky enough that no one died even though that was definitely the intent, but he attacked one I considered Pack, and… I saw red.”

For the first time since Odysseus started talking, the other spoke, “You went feral.” 

“Feral? Huh, I suppose that term is appropriate. Anyways, I don't recall much of what happened after I went ‘feral’, but I hear those of the crew that were there whisper sometimes about how the Cyclops's eye was gouged out by my own claws.”

“In the end, we were able to escape the cave but in doing so I… Well, you know.” 

Silence once more fell upon them, the one to break it this time being Ulysses. 

“You said no one died?”

“We have the six of them in one of the cabins that we turned into an infirmary, but… While they still live, their injuries were severe and we lack enough proper medical supplies and skills.” Odysseus sighed, “Sometimes I wonder if death wouldn't have been a kinder fate, at least then they wouldn't have been left to suffer for so long…

"I suppose it's a small consolation that most of their time is spent unconscious.”

Odysseus’s voice lowered, his own keen hearing catching the Alpha's faint murmur, “Perhaps that explains the strife with Eurylochus and the crew lately.”

He pretended not to've heard, reaching a hand out and placing it against the taller male's, “Can you allow me to see them? I should be able to help.” 

“Ah –“ For a moment, Odysseus was lost, staring at the hand on his, one that was smaller than his own with slender fingers and distinct joints. 

“Odysseus?” 

The Alpha coughed, averting his gaze and pulling his hand back as he turned.

“Come on, I'll take you there.”

–––

Eurylochus found Odysseus at the infirmary. 

His Captain was leaning against the wall nearest the door, remaining close enough in case help was needed but far enough that he didn't needlessly get in the way.

He noticed that not once had the other's gaze left the form moving between the six occupied beds, unable to keep from frowning as he noticed Ulysses pouring something into their mouths – and Odysseus was allowing it. 

“Captain, should you be allowing him to do whatever it is he's doing?”

“Eurylochus, Ulysses was certain that he has the means to heal Polites and our other men.”

“But Captain, we don't know who he is; He could end up making them worse or even end up killing them!”

Had the larger man been paying attention, he would've noticed Odysseus still, the other turning to look at him with narrowed eyes. 

He did, however, hear the growl. 

“You know as well as everyone else that, for whatever the circumstance, Ulysses is me.

“So, unless you find yourself unable to trust me, I would drop it.”

Odysseus was, for lack of a better word, tired. 

He was tired of his second-in-command's constant negative mindset and doubts; Don't think he hadn't noticed it ever since they first left Troy, though it seemed the other Alpha had been getting bolder after the run-in with Polyphemus. 

Eurylochus wasn't even subtle about it, disregarding time and place over and over again. 

Odysseus didn't even want to think about what could've been said or done in places where he wasn't around to hear.

He wasn't under the impression that his sister's mate was stupid and wholly unaware of what sowing such doubts and discord amongst the crew could possibly lead to. 

(He did wonder, though, when he had stopped considering the other male as a friend.)

When no response came, Odysseus raised an eyebrow. 

“Don't think that I haven't noticed, Eurylochus; Lately, it's rare when I don't hear you questioning a decision I make or an action I take – that storm, Aeolus's island, the wind bag to name a few, and now this.”

His gaze grew sharper. 

“If you cannot trust me then it doesn't surprise me why you're unable to trust Ulysses, but –“

He paused, considering his words. 

“While we weren't present for most of the confrontation, the fact remains that it was Ulysses who convinced Poseidon to forgive us and allowed our fleet to leave without a single ship or life lost.

“There is also the fact that Ulysses is an Omega, one that the Great God of Tides himself treated as an equal, so –“

“Male Omegas don't exist!” 

Odysseus shut his mouth, giving the other an incredulous look, all but pushing down the anger beginning to rise in his chest but tone still terse. 

“Just like an island floating in the sky couldn't be the home of Aeolus?” 

By the Gods, his patience was wearing even thinner the longer he spoke to Eurolychus.

The endless doubt and lack of faith the other Alpha seemed to possess, the constant sense of a potential challenge; Perhaps he had let it drag on for too long, his unwillingness to act due to the fact that Eurylochus was also his brother-in-law. 

Neither of the two Alphas noticed another's approach until the calming presence of the Omega's pheromones settled over them both. 

Said Omega stood at his Alpha counterpart's side and looked up to Eurylochus. 

His own eyes were void of emotion, a sharpened edge to the words he spoke to the other..

“Whether you believe I'm an Omega or not is something I could care less about, but.”

Ulysses reached a hand up, placing it against Odysseus's arm. 

“I would like to think  you care about the reality before you. Odysseus might hold the title of General when leading his troops and Captain when sailing the seas to bring his men home but his true identity is forever as your King.

“I would be careful, Eurylochus, or one might assume that you desire power that is not yours and would commit mutiny in order to take it.”

The Omega smiled but it was a smile that sent a shiver down Eurylochus's spine. 

“That would be considered treason and not even your identity as Ctimene's mate would spare you of punishment.”

Oh, Odysseus thought as he watched Ulysses lash out, the attraction for the other him growing even more, Penelope would absolutely love him.

He hummed, not caring in the least about how defeated Eurylochus looked once Ulysses had finished, the Omega all but demanding the other Alpha to leave under pretense of his presence being bad for the patients. 

“You know, Ctimene would be furious at you for allowing things to come to this point,” Ulysses then turned attention to him, “Eurylochus is her mate but she would never condone his actions, especially if it would lead to you getting harmed.”

“Yes, you're right.” Odysseus was quick to affirm the other's words, “It's a good thing you're here to do what I failed at.”

He watched the Omega laugh, “Of course, I was King of Ithaca once, too.”

You could still be. I would gladly share my throne with you.

Ulysses left Odysseus to once more return to the injured men, the Omega stopping at one bedside in particular.

The man upon it looked much better than he had before, whatever the liquid essence that he and the others ingested quick to work. No more traces of injury marked his skin, his chest rising and falling steadily with each unhindered breath. 

Content with what he saw, Ulysses left Polites to check the other five one last time before returning to Odysseus. 

“They should wake up tomorrow, not too much worse for wear – what I gave them would've helped heal any atrophied muscles, but due to lack of food, they will be weak for at least a few weeks after."

Odysseus looked down at Ulysses, relieved at his words. 

He owed the Omega so much, for he had a feeling that had he not appeared, nothing but death and despair awaited himself and his men. 

“Lys, thank you.”

Chapter Text

Odysseus looked at the water, taking in the reflection of the moon and stars against its tranquil surface as he remembered  the comparison Ulysses had made earlier. 

“Sailing among the skies indeed,” He murmured before straightening, catching sight of a slight shift in the water's surface nearest him. 

The ship and surrounding sea disappeared from around him, Odysseus now finding himself in a space not dissimilar to the one he used to meet Athena in. 

The smell of the sea was strong and a good indication on just who was responsible for bringing him to wherever he was. 

He tensed, a hand falling to his side, fingers touching the hilt of his sword. 

“Be at ease, Odysseus.” Before him appeared the Sea God himself, the immortal looking down at him with a knowing smirk, “Or, should I say, the true King of Ithaca?” 

“Poseidon.” Odysseus acknowledged, unable to relax despite the other's initial words.

“I told the little Omega – Ulysses is what he now calls himself, right? – that the former matter between us is over.” 

“Yet here I am.”

“Odysseus, I have ensured your fleet smooth sailing up until now.” Poseidon scoffed, leaning over, “You're sailing in my domain; It's hardly difficult for me to keep track of those I wish to, whether it be their location or... even the conversations they hold.”

Had it not been for the – dare he call it such? – playful glint within Poseidon's eyes and calm tone, Odysseus would've been more concerned. 

Still, he couldn't help but sigh, “You know what I told Ulysses about our encounter with your son.”

“I do.” Poseidon straightened, “What you spoke of made far more sense than what Polyphemus told me.

“I haven't heard the term Ulysses used to describe your state before, but I have borne witness to those who were afflicted before and there truly was nothing you could've done. The fact that you managed to overcome it as you did is even commendable.”

The Sea God looked Odysseus over as if searching for something but, unable to find it, changed the subject to something else. 

“Before, I granted reprieve to Ulysses and now I wish to grant the same directly to you along with a warning.”

Poseidon leaned over to whisper into Odysseus' ear. 

“Keep an eye on those around you, King of Ithaca.”

Odysseus blinked and once more found himself back on his ship with nothing but open seas around him and no sign of the God of Tides to be seen. 

–––

Hundreds of miles from where the Ithacan fleet sailed, Penelope, the Queen of Ithaca woke with a gasp.

The feel of sheets falling around her and the smell of olives in the air made her tense, eyes darting around and taking in her surroundings. 

She recognized the walls, the tapestries and the large loom set against one wall. 

The bed she had lain in was the one her beloved Odysseus had painstakingly created from their olive tree; The same bed that he had later planned and built his palace around. 

It all seemed real. 

The sight, the touch, the smell –

(But it couldn't be, not when the last thing she remembered was being forced to ingest some divine plant Hermes shoved in her mouth. 

Her throat still burned with a phantom pain as it had when she swallowed it. 

That had been on some island with a sorceress who had cursed a few of her remaining crew, one whose palace she planned to enter to confront.) 

Then the pain came, sudden and sharp as though a spear  had been stabbed into her skull. 

With the pain came images, memories of another her that had fallen for another Odysseus that was an Alpha as she was but just as ardent in his love for her –

An Odysseus who participated in the Trojan War and left her behind to wait on his return instead. 

And this other Penelope had waited as she tended to the duties that would've otherwise fallen on the King. 

Waiting, waiting, waiting –

Until one day upon the horizon came the sails of ships, a dozen that made up the entire fleet that had left Ithaca a decade ago. 

Ships that had been so close to their homeland before being swept up and away by a sudden storm whose origin seemed too divine . 

Seems like in either world the crew could not be trusted. 

The last of the memories ended with the former her's world fading into a sudden darkness, she herself being the one to exist when awakened. 

The pain faded after the new assimilated with her old, and she was both glad and saddened that the latter was retained. 

Glad because she never wanted to forget her Odysseus but sad to acknowledge that he would forever be waiting for her now, and she would never return to him. 

I'm sorry, my love. I was trying to come home to you, but –

I ventured too far. 

Penelope wandered the palace halls, its layout the same as the one she remembered. 

It's odd, She mused, How something so familiar could also feel so different. 

She often found herself stopping before a painting or statue that depicted the Ithacan King, unable to keep from noting the differences between the Alpha and Beta Odysseuses. 

It was like comparing a tree's trunk to one of their branches.

One handsome, the other more suitable for the term ‘beautiful’. 

Both yielded so beautifully under Penelope's touch, though.

Her thoughts were beginning to veer into a direction she'd rather not, but it had been a decade since she last had her husband in something other than a few scant dreams. 

She missed him.

Missed his eyes that always seemed to light up whenever he saw her. 

Missed his smile, his voice, his touch.

Missed everything and she would never have any of him again aside from her memories that she couldn't help but fear would one day fade. 

She didn't want to forget him but at the same time she wished he could forget her.

His love for her had always burned so bright and she feared what would happen if he realized she would never return.

At least he's not an Omega. 

It was a small consolation, the fact that he had been Beta; The two of them were wed but unable to become mates in the sense an Alpha-Omega – or even Alpha-Alpha – pair could. 

She laughed at herself, at her thought –

Odysseus could never be Omega, it just wasn't something that happened to males.

So he would be fine, had  to be fine. 

What if he had been watching, waiting as she had here?

What if he had seen their fleet's imminent return and following storm that sent them elsewhere?

He would think them dead, dead, dead .

Penelope's wandering stopped before a large window, light beginning to sweep the darkness of night aside as Helios’ sun slowly emerged. 

Her chest felt heavy, heart aching with each steady beat it took. 

What did it mean for her to come to this world, to take the place of its Penelope? 

Her Odysseus would rather die than live without her was still waiting for her. 

Waiting.

Alpha Odysseus and Beta Odysseus appeared in her mind, the two overlapping; Different, but the smile and love in their eyes were exactly the same.

Her Odysseus had waited for her as had the Penelope before her waited until neither could wait no more. 

Odysseus was still out there, somewhere, trying to return to Ithaca – to Penelope, to her. 

She knew it had to be true because the two were of similar mindsets and that had been what she had been attempting to do before ending up here.

He might not be the one she loved before, but no matter how, where or when, he would always be the one she wanted.

She just hoped that if the Fates were kind that her Odysseus could be found and loved by the other Penelope in turn.

Chapter Text

“Captain, we're running out of food.”

One of the last things Odysseus wanted to hear once more came out of Eurylochus’ mouth.

He frowned, looking out at the large expanse of water stretched out before them with not a single landmass in sight. 

Looking above, he also noted the lack of birds.

“... Okay. Inform the others to continue on the same course for now. “

He heard the other Alpha sigh, his shoulders tensing at the sound and Poseidon’s warning repeating in his mind.

Seconds passed without another word or movement from either before Odysseus heard Eurylochus leaving, the other’s loud voice issuing his commands. 

Shoulders relaxing, he sighed, wondering just how much longer things could continue before it all came to a head. 

–––

Polites regained consciousness, staring up at a somewhat distorted looking wooden ceiling through blurred vision. 

Unable to bear the sight, he closed his eyes and listened. 

Someone was walking around wherever he was, their footsteps light against the wooden floor –

Wooden ceiling, wooden floor… 

He was on a ship, but why? How? 

The last thing he remembered was something striking him and tossing him aside as if he were nothing but a sack of potatoes; It had hurt , too, and he had been all too glad when the darkness came.

He had been resigned to die, and yet –

“You're awake!”

The exclamation came from a voice that sounded similar to someone he knew but lighter, softer.

Who?

“Odysseus will be glad to hear you’re awake,” The unknown other continued, “The other five regained consciousness a few hours earlier.”

Hearing his best friend’s name, Polites pushed past the unease his poor sight gave him, opening his eyes slowly.

“You… who are you?” The face above him was still blurry but he found himself drawn into the brown and gold hues of the other’s mismatched eyes; He didn’t need to be able to see clearly to realise the other male was beautiful and all he saw at the moment was his face.

“You can call me Ulysses.” Ulysses handed over a familiar item, the glasses surprisingly intact save for the left lens being cracked, “You’ll have to make do with these until we’re back in Ithaca and can get new ones.”

“No, it's fine, at least I can see again,” Polites slipped the glasses on, relieved as everything came back into focus, easing the strain on his eyes.

He looked over at the other, blinking a few times at his now distortion-free face, “You are… Ulysses?”

No wonder he thought the voice was familiar, its speaker looking so much like his friend but also so different.

“That, or Lys to friends,” Ulysses smiled, “Welcome back, Polites.”

–––

Eurylochus found Polites, the latter leaning against the ship's side and taking in the cool sea breeze. 

“Polites, you've met that person Odysseus is always with, right?” He approached his friend, looking him over; The other was paler than he'd been before the run-in with the Cyclops, but with time and further recuperation he was said to be able to make a complete recovery. 

He was glad for that, but –

“You mean Ulysses?” The Beta smiled, “Hard to believe he's what Odysseus could be had his Designation been different.” 

He bristled, hissing in a low voice, “He's dangerous, an unknown that the Captain's taken in that can lead to nothing but harm.”

“...” Polites blinked, a bit taken aback, “What?’

“You weren't there, Polites! He just appeared out of nowhere –“

“Elpenor mentioned that, said that it was because of him that Poseidon left our fleet alone.”

“He's suspicious, and because of him the Captain –“

“Eurylochus.”

The sudden call startled both men, the two turning towards the speaker.

Odysseus’s expression remained blank with no indication of whether or not he heard any of their conversation.

“Eurylochus,” He repeated, “There has been a sighting of what appears to be an island, please go and direct the other ships to continue heading towards it.”

His eyes stared into the taller man's eyes, a silent warning in their bi-colored hues. 

“... I'll get to it, Captain,” Eurylochus moved, Odysseus stepping to the side in time to avoid the ‘accidental’ checking of his shoulder as the other Alpha passed. 

He waited until it was just Polites and him, the look he gave to the Beta far different than the one given to Eurylochus, full of warmth. 

“Polites, it's good to see you're feeling well enough to come on deck.” 

Polites smiled, “Definitely beats staying in those cramped quarters below.” He hesitated, before, “Earlier, when you first appeared –”

“It's nothing you need to worry about, Pol.” Odysseus interrupted, “Your only task right now along with the other five men is to take it easy until Ulysses clears you all as fully recovered. Whether below or above deck, I don't care as long as I don't catch you attempting to do anything you shouldn't be.”

He turned his gaze out towards the sea, at the barely visible mass of land their fleet slowly drew nearer to. 

“If we're lucky, that island should be safe to find some food that'll replenish our supplies enough to cover us until we reach Ithaca.”

–––

The closer the fleet got to the island, the more obvious it became on just how massive of one it was.

Odysseus took the lead in signaling for the other eleven ships to drop anchor some ways from the shore while his own moored close enough to disembark; He was the first to get off the ship, accompanied by Ulysses, Eurylochus and ten others. 

“There's a lot more ground to cover than initially thought,” Odysseus murmured to himself, the beach the thirteen of them stood on seeming endless from left to right and appearing to go inland a bit as well. 

“Eurylochus,” He called his second-in-command over, “Take Perimedes, Elpenor and four others to start exploring towards the middle of the island. Take note of possible water sources along with wild fruits and vegetables.” He paused before adding, “If you see any animal we'd consider livestock, do not attack.”

They couldn't be sure if this island lacked inhabitants and the last thing Odysseus wanted was a repeat of Polyphemus.

Dismissing Eurylochus with a wave, Odysseus watched the group of Alphas disappear from view before turning to the rest. 

“The rest of you split into pairs and scout out the perimeter of either side of this beach.”

The four were quick to leave in opposite directions, leaving Odysseus and Ulysses standing alone on the beach. 

“Ulysses…” Odysseus turned towards the Omega, “You can return to the ship if you want. It's unknown how long it'd take for either team to return with news of their findings.”

“It's fine,” Ulysses dismissed, “I'm going to take a look around myself –” He glanced over, “I'll stay within your viewing range.”

Odysseus wanted to reject the other's proposal but stopped himself, reminding himself that the Omega wasn't his to deny; Whether as a crew member, subject of his kingdom or his mate. 

“... Be careful, and remember to stay in sight.”

Ulysses hummed and took a step forward before pausing and looking over his shoulder, “If you want, you can join me. It wouldn't hurt for you to stretch out your legs.”

“Ah?” Odysseus took a moment to register the offer before moving to join the Omega. 

“Odysseus?” Ulysses spoke after some time of a comfortable silence, drawing the other's attention at the unusual quietness of his tone, “I was wondering if I could ask you something.”

“You don't need to ask me permission for anything.” Odysseus replied, “Especially for something as simple as a question.”

“Oh, well…” He looked towards the sea meters from where the two had stopped, “I was just curious.”

“Curious?”

Ulysses hesitated in responding, both wanting an answer for his question but at the same time not. 

“You… Your Penelope, I'm assuming – You're an Alpha, so is she Omega? Beta?”

There was a brief moment of silence before Odysseus smiled, “Neither, my Penelope is as much an Alpha as I am and I never once regretted becoming her mate.”

“Alpha… You must've gotten a lot of flack regarding an heir.*

He definitely recalled all the trouble he'd been given regarding such back when he was a Beta with an Alpha as his lover. 

“Heir? We discussed it, Penelope and I, though the options available to us specifically weren't ones that appealed to either of us.” 

The thought of bringing a third Beta or Omega female for the mere purpose of bedding for an heir… Odysseus frowned; Not once had he ever seriously considered the thought, disliking the idea of allowing himself to be with another that wasn’t his Penelope, but now… Ulysses might not be female but he is Omega with the same blood in his veins that flows within mine, and if it were him…


“Captain!”

Both Odysseus and Ulysses turned at the panicked shout, the former stepping forward to meet its speaker.

“Eurylochus, back so soon?” It hadn't been that long since the three groups had left.

“Where are the rest of the men who went with you?” Ulysses frowned, noting how no others appeared behind the taller Alpha.

“Captain,” Eurylochus took a moment to catch his breath before standing up straight, “The seven of us had been going inland as directed when we came across an unexpected sight  – a palace.

“From within it came a call, an invitation spoken from a voice that sounded so kind. 'Come inside', it said.”

Odysseus and Ulysses: “...”

“It continued to speak, coaxing us with promises of drinks and food to eat.

“They tried to resist but the power the other contained was just too great.”

“Oh, and who was it that contained such power to enthrall?”

“Captain!” Eurylochus looked Odysseus in his eyes, his tone serious, “Captain, since we left home we’ve faced a variety of foes from a wide range of types – monsters, Gods, you know the lot, all were ones that could've been fought.

“But this, this –”

Odysseus had a feeling he was going to regret asking, “Who was it?”

Eurylochus, in a deadpan tone: “A woman.”

Odysseus and Ulysses, at the same time with matching inflection of exasperated disbelief: “What.”

"An Omega! It was over the moment the six stepped through her doors but I stayed outside, and what happened next I'll never forget." Eurylochus shuddered, "She hadn't lied and provided the food and drinks she promised but it didn't take long after until they all began to change.

"Growing first ears then a snout... Their squeals of panic as their forms contorted and deformed...

"Captain, she turned them into pigs!" 

After Eurylochus's final declaration, just the sound of his heavy breathing could be heard for a few minutes.


Ulysses was the first to break it, turning to Odysseus, "We need to go and see if we can free them."

"No!" Eurylochus glared at the Omega, "Didn't you listen to what I just said? For what reason should we risk ourselves to save them?"

"They're your comrades –"

There was a sudden fluctuation in the air as Eurylochus let his pheromones go, aiming them towards the shortest male of the three.

"Don't you dare, Eurylochus!" Pulling the Omega behind him, Odysseus's eyes flashed with anger as his own pheromones flared and overwhelmed the other Alpha's.

"Captain, you –" Eurylochus drew back with a gasp, knees weak as he struggled to fight against the demand of the Ithacan King's pheromones to submit; It wasn't until another few minutes passed before the shorter Alpha let him go.

"We didn't leave our injured behind on Polyphemus's island and as long as there's the slightest chance, we are not leaving anyone behind here." Odysseus snarled, "You can remain here while I –"

"I'm going with you." Ulysses placed a hand on Odysseus's arm, soothing the other with his own scent as he whispered to him, "If she's an Omega, she might have something against Alphas, so... It'll be safer for me to come too."

"Good, I wouldn't risk leaving you here without me."

Odysseus didn't need to look to Eurylochus for either of the other two to understand his thoughts.

–––

Not too much time later as Odysseus and Ulysses made their way beneath the shade of large trees, the sound of laughter echoed in the air around them.

Chapter Text

The moment the laughter sounded, Odysseus tensed. 

One hand fell to the sword sheathed at his side, the other gesturing for Ulysses to stand behind him. 

“Hahaha…”

More laughter, this time not an echo but sounding rather close, almost as if –

“Ha… I must say, such a thrilling display that was.”

Odysseus looked up, his eyes narrowing at a flicker of white among the verdant green. 

“Who goes there?”

His head turned at a flash of gold in the corner of his eye. 

“Just a friend who wishes to lend a hand.

“One like Circe isn't simple and to best her you'll need the help, a blessing, from a God –“. 

“God?” Odysseus frowned and took a step back as if to shield the Omega. 

“Divine intervention from someone who is not afraid to –“

Ulysses, recognizing the owner of the voice, cut in before the unknown speaker could finish, “Hermes?” 

Silence followed the God's name before said God appeared, hovering in the air before the smaller male. 

Blue eyes, pupil-less and glowing faintly, looked into Ulysses’. 

“How peculiar,” He murmured with a slight tilt of his head, “My blood lies within you as does a faint breath of my Blessing but –”

Hermes looked to Odysseus, then back to Ulysses, “I think I would've been aware of the existence of a male Omega of my line, especially one that looks so much like another of my descendants.”

There was a seriousness on his face, one that was rare to see.

Ulysses opened his mouth as if to answer but the God stopped him, his finger pressed against his lips. 

“Don't speak, little Omega, none can demand answers from you that you don't wish to tell.”

He laughed, pulling his hand back and turning his attention onto Odysseus, further amused at the disgruntled look on the Alpha's face. 

“Now, then, where were we?”

Odysseus relaxed a little when the God's attention returned to him, not liking how close the immortal was to the Omega. 

“You spoke of providing aid to help with –“

“Ah, yes ~ Circe. An Alpha such as yourself would be a fool to face her without some guidance.”

Hermes tittered, disappearing and reappearing in front of him. 

“There's so much she does to unsuspecting Alphas and Betas ~

“Turning them into pigs is just one of them, though in rare instances some have become her loyal guard.”

Hermes looked him up and down, “Maybe you'd be one of them? Or, perhaps…”

The God moved in an instant, Odysseus’s chin held between his fingers, a thumb brushing against his lips. 

“For an Alpha, you're definitely one of the prime candidates. She might take a fancy and coax you into bed with her instead ~”

Said Alpha growled, wiping at his mouth the moment Hermes let him go. 

“Ha ~” Hermes patted him on the head, “Don't worry, how could I allow anything untoward happen to you? That would make my little Omega sad, and we can't have that ~”

“He isn't your Omega.”

“He carries my blood, which makes him mine ~” Hermes dismissed his protest, “You're one of mine, too.” He smirked,  “So come with me, Ody my boy, and we can discuss just how I can help you, alone ~”

– – – 

Hermes circled around the Alpha, his gaze sharp as he studied the other. 

“Interesting ~ It looks like my original idea should be the perfect one.”

Perhaps even the most entertaining.

He hovered a bit off the ground, a single flower appearing between the fingers of one hand; It was a five-petaled one, its color such a pure white that almost seemed to glow with the faintest dusting of gold at the edges. 

“This is Moly, a divine flower that mortals such as yourself normally can't see, much less touch.” He leaned over, mischievous glint within his blue eyes, “Or, in your case, eat.”

“I don't thi –” Odysseus widened his eyes as the flower was shoved into his mouth, a finger pushing his chin up to close it.

“Tsk, one shouldn’t refuse the gift of a God,” Hermes pat him on the cheek, ignoring the glare flashing within the other’s eyes, “Now be a good Alpha and be sure to chew and swallow, to the roots and all ~”


Odysseus continued to glare even as he, reluctantly – admittedly with no other choice – did as told.

The flower’s taste was one that was an odd cross between both bitter and sweet, a bit of moisturizing nectar seeping from its broken petals helping to ease its path down his throat.

Then the burning sensation came and he coughed, his hand flying up to grasp at his neck as sudden heat scorched his throat before flaring within his veins.

“Fuck,” He rasped as the searing heat shifted into a cooling chill next that soothed the pain caused before.

The few minutes the entire process took felt longer to him and Hermes watched with no emotion on his face throughout the entire process.

“Don’t think of me as cruel, Odysseus, for one must be willing to bear the pain in order to achieve the desired result.” The God gave a smile that wasn't quite one, "The power that lies within Moly will grant you the means to stand on even ground with Circe along with some additional side affects that you should be feeling soon."


Odysseus groaned in response, shutting his eyes at a feeling of discomfort within them, a similar feeling in his ears as well.

One second.

Two, three...

He blinked, subconsciously widening his eyes as he took in his sudden, highly improved sight; His eyesight had always been good, but now, and it seemed his hearing had underwent a similar enhancement.

Then there was the feeling within, one that reminded him almost of how he felt on Polyphemus's island moments before he had gone 'feral'.

Now, though, it didn't control him – he controlled it.

"This – huh." He said after another couple minutes of re-evaluating himself; He still was a little upset at the God's earlier antics and means of going about it, but at the same time he couldn't help but be thankful for the outcome, "Thank you, Hermes."

"Ha, don't thank me quite yet ~" Said God laughed, "After all, there's still a chance you'll end up failing and either end up as swine, unpaid help or a future conquest beneath her ~"

Hermes leaned forward, "If that happens, I promise to take care of the little Omega ~"

With more of his laughter that Odysseus found so annoying, the Messenger God saluted his mortal descendant and winked before disappearing in a flash of gold.

"I can go in with you, Odysseus." Ulysses offered, the two of them standing at the foot of the stairs that led up to the palace entrance.

"No." The Alpha shook his head, frowning, "Eurylochus said Circe is an Omega, but..." 

Something doesn't seem right.

Odysseus couldn't quite put his finger on it, but would rather err on the side of caution.

"If something does end up happening to me..." He hesitated before gritting his teeth and finishing, "Call for Hermes."

Or would Poseidon be more reliable compared to him?

No... His eyes flashed, narrowing and determined. I won't fall to Circe so neither of them will be needed.

He reached over, hand hovering in hesitation for a moment before it fell atop the Omega's head in a light pat as he smiled brightly.

"I will return, Lys, so just wait for me."

– – – 

Odysseus stood before the grand doors that served as the barrier between him and the Sorceress he had come to see, taking in a deep breath before exhaling and raising his hand to knock.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

It was after the third when the doors swung inwards on their own, the palace owner's voice – light and melodic – calling out her invitation.

"Come inside ~"

Here we go.

He took one last, calming breath, before squaring his shoulders and stepping through the doors; The moment his feet crossed the threshold, said doors slammed shut behind him.