I blinked back tears as the three of us walked hand in hand into the backyard. Our friends all formed a large circle spreading out from where the priestess that Kai had recommended stood waiting for us to join her. She looked like the embodiment of Mother Earth herself, with her waist-length, silver-gray hair blowing in the breeze and the long white gown she wore flapping at her ankles. I’d had no idea that paganism was a thing in the modern era, but I had to give a fist bump for any religion that would allow the three of us to have a marriage ceremony. Commitment ceremony? Whatever. We were going with handfasting.

I glanced around the circle of people who’d taken time from their lives to celebrate with us today, touched beyond measure to have this show of support. Josiah’s former boss, Abrar, was standing there with his wife. Beside him was the burly, bearded, and tattooed barkeep, Larry, and a few guys from Pete’s Bar.

Larry was a good guy with a soft heart; it had been a relief when he’d helped us to finally convince Josiah to forget about ever returning to the damn job and go do the doula classes instead. He’d had second thoughts about working at all, anyway, but as Zander got older, Josiah was less urgent to constantly be with him, and now was interested in doing something outside the home that wouldn’t take up too much of his time.

Not only would that be a hell of a lot better than our omega working in a bar, it would also go a long way toward making Josiah feel the same fulfillment in life that Rich and I had with our jobs. The rest would come with age as he grew into himself, now that he wasn’t constantly hustling from job to job to keep food on the table for Sam. At twenty-six, our Josiah had a lot of time left to figure out what he wanted for his career.

Ethan was there with his daughter, Bella. His mom, Mrs. St. John, stood with them. She was already dabbing at her eyes with a discreetly held handkerchief. Sam’s old babysitter, Mrs. Jones, was here. Along with Mr. Davis, Sam’s new alpha school teacher that she’d insisted on inviting today. He was a great guy, and I’d had no problem with her request.

Richard’s dad stood near the priestess, holding our Zander. At nine months, he was already getting so big that I’d been hinting lately at the idea of having another within the next year so they’d be close in age.

So far, Josiah had been shutting that idea right down. Rich had that look in his eyes that told me he was remembering how sexy he’d found our boy when he was preggo. That man and his fetishist omega porn. So funny from such an uptight man, but that was Rich. A man with many contrasts and subtleties. I looked forward to learning more of Josiah’s as the years went by.

Between Rich’s dad and the priestess stood our Sammy. Or, Samantha as she’d asked to be called now that she was pushing the ripe old age of ten this year. I mean, she was going to be double digits! She wore a sunshine yellow, cap-sleeved, gauzy peasant dress that flowed to mid-calf, with a wreath of woven daisies and pink geraniums in her hair. The three colors of her outfit matched the ribbons worn on each of our wrists.

After a lot of research, Sam had chosen our colors for today. She’d picked pink for romance, white for goodness and light, while the yellow was for clarity, joy, and optimism. We’d all agreed that she’d made good choices.

As we entered the circle, I glanced over Josiah’s head to Rich. Flashes of our original wedding day went through my head, yet somehow, it wasn’t as meaningful as today’s ceremony. Today I bound myself not to one, but two men. Two men, a little lady, and our precious son. My family, my life, my joy.

Josiah squeezed my hand with a soft smile. “Save the tears for later, D. First let’s get through the actual ceremony.”

I squeezed his hand back and walked happily toward my future. My future with these two annoying, enchanting, and completely lovable men. The priestess nodded solemnly as we approached her, barefoot in our white suits. Apparently, the inner circle here was considered hallowed ground, so yeah, no shoes.

The three of us formed our own small circle in front of her, with Rich and I facing each other while Josiah stood between us. As it should be, our omega being protected by his alphas, while we in turn drew strength from him.

I focused as the priestess began the brief ceremony. “Thank you for being, family and friends. Today our grooms have chosen to bind themselves together with a traditional handfasting. More than a symbolic binding of the hands, this will demonstrate the connection and bond that only love can provide between joined souls such as these. We’ve all heard of the bonds of matrimony, or joked about tying the knot? Traditional handfasting is the origin of these phrases, a ceremony almost as old as time itself. Where there is community, there is love. Where there is love, a need for a permanent connection exists.”

She smiled then, her entire face lighting up as if a light had been turned on within. “Hold up your corded hands, gentlemen.” As we each held out our right hand, she went to each and untied the ribbons that Sam had so carefully tied on this morning. Holding the three of them in outstretched hands, the priestess spoke loud enough for all to hear while deftly braiding the three strands into one long unified cord.

“The impermanent cords are a perishable reminder that all material things will eventually return to the earth from whence it came. Only love, with its connecting bond, is eternal. Now we will witness the binding of the hands.”

The priestess motioned to Sammy to join us. “While young Samantha entwines the hands of the guardians who have been put in place to see her through her journey into adulthood, I will recite the blessing of hands.”

Sammy waited expectantly with a beaming smile, ready to do the loose Celtic knot-style wrap she’d practiced for today. We’d chosen that knot because it had three loops. Sammy had liked the challenge of learning it.

The priestess nodded to Sammy as she began to speak again.

“Gentleman, this knot is a symbol of the joining of your lives together. Until today, you’ve been separated in thought, actions, and deeds. As your hands become bound by this knotted three-stranded cord, so, too, shall your three lives become bound as one. May you forever be one, sharing all things with love, loyalty, and truth for the rest of your time together.”

Sam had the first part of the knot formed as the priestess nodded her approval and finished.

“Look to your partners, gentlemen. Their hands will love and cherish through the years, giving each of you a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will wipe away your tears of both sorrow and joy. They will comfort you in times of distress, hold you through the darkest of nights, while also providing support and encouragement as you chase your dreams. Apart, you were separate individuals. Together, you are one.”

With a nod to Sam to step aside after our photographer took a picture of our tied hands, the priestess grabbed one end and pulled the knot free, holding the cord high above her head.

“Although the ties binding these men cannot be seen with the naked eye, may they now and forevermore be joined as one within their hearts. You who have witnessed this moment today, it is on you to encourage them, support them, and respect the unity of their handfasting.”

She turned to Big Dick then. “I believe that our grooms have chosen rings as well?”

Big Dick stepped forward, taking the closed velvet pouch that Zander held in his chubby hands. “Hang on, big guy, G’pa Dick will give it right back.”

Zander cooed at his G’pa while Sammy came over and took the pouch from him. Holding a baby and trying to do something that required two hands just didn’t work well. Sammy opened the pouch and dumped the three rings and a pile of loose leaf tea into her palm.

Josiah giggled and Rich groaned at my little prank that Sam had helped me pull off. I mean, that whole tea proposal? That was awesome.

Sammy blew the tea to the grass, leaving three platinum bands in her hand, each etched with a series of Celtic knots on the outside, with our three names and today’s date on the inner band. As we’d agreed, Sammy went to each of us and put the rings on our fingers. She started with Richard, of course. It was adorable how much she loved her papa.

“Papa Rich, this ring is a symbol of your commitment to Siah and Duddy. Wear it as a symbol of your eternal love.” After a teary-eyed Rich hugged her, Sammy moved on.

“Siah, this ring is a symbol of your commitment to my Duddy and my Papa Rich. Wear it as a reminder of their love for you. And don’t screw this up, because I’m never leaving them. Also, congratulations and thank you for being everything to me for all my life. I love you.” Tears were falling freely down my cheeks as I laughed at her very serious speech, not giving two shits what the hell the pictures the photographer was taking right now would look like.

After hugging her brother, Sammy turned to me. She smiled shyly. “Duddy. I saved you for last, because you’re the sweetest. This ring is a symbol of your commitment to Siah and Papa Rich. Wear it as a symbol of your love and our family.”

She started to step away, but I stopped her. “Samantha, we have a gift for you, too. Papa Rich and I aren’t just taking Josiah as our forever family, we are also taking you. Right?” I pulled the necklace with the Celtic knot charm out of my pocket and fastened it around her neck.

“Sammy girl, the knot on this necklace is our reminder to you that you will always have all three of us watching over you, loving you, and guiding you through this game called life. We will always love you, no matter what.”

Sammy threw her arms around my waist as Rich and Josiah pressed in and joined us for a group hug. I felt another arm go around my shoulder and a tiny hand grabbing at my hair. I looked up to see Big Dick had joined our hug, with Zander along for the ride.

The priestess waited until we pulled apart, and Big Dick had stepped to the side with both children. She smiled fondly at us and spoke one last time.

“The amount of love here is obvious to any who look, the connection stronger than any chain with a bond that I believe will glue you all together for the rest of your time on this earth. Blessings to each of you, go forth in peace, practice patience, and remember to listen more than you speak. Alphas, you may now claim your omega in the time-honored way while I pronounce you a bonded trio.”

Josiah held out each hand to us. Rich took his right, while I took the left. After taking a moment to inhale his sweet scent of that sweet sage mixed with English garden rose, I pressed a kiss to his pulse point before biting gently into his skin.

Lifting my head enough to watch Rich looking back at me as he did the same, we sank our teeth deeply enough into our omega’s wrists to leave a claiming scar, yet not deep enough to draw blood. This tradition may be one that went back to our caveman days, but savages we were not.

After pressing one more kiss to his wrist, I took another whiff. Peace settled over my soul, filling an emptiness I’d never known existed. I smelled his new scent as our own scents merged with that of our omega. His own fragrance profile now carried the distinct additions of sandalwood, lavender, and amber. Forevermore, there would be no missing the fact that our omega had been claimed by not one, but two alphas.

Rich and I stood, and the three of us went in for a three-way kiss while our friends clapped and cheered. We turned and waited for things to die down before Josiah spoke.

“Thanks for coming, everyone, now who’s ready for cake?”