Beneath the same gazebo where Wyatt and Raph had married, Sam waited with his mom and the minister, watching as Valen and Harris began their march down the aisle.
Around, their families witnessed this. Sam’s brother, Kade, and his family were there. So were Wyatt and Raph and their children, and the staff at the drive-in. The off-duty station staff were gathered on the other side of the aisle, along with Valen’s parents.
As their audience stood, Valen and Harris walked slowly down the aisle, Landon between them, all three of them dressed in suits. Sam had worn a loose shirt and pants, and to everyone else, there was no baby bump to be seen.
Soft music played in the background. Landon hopped from one foot to another down the aisle, and Harris and Valen alternated between watching their son, and gazing at Sam.
Sam held his breath. He’d never anticipated making this bonding public—not when Valen and Harris had faced such opposition from the fire chief, when he had been afraid to tell his mom about his alphas.
But as he looked at the accepting gazes around him, and as Mom leaned into Sam, warmth in her eyes, Sam knew he’d made the right choice, by choosing both Harris and Valen.
“How beautiful,” Mom murmured, squeezing Sam’s hand.
“They really are,” he said, rubbing his ring finger where the golden band had been sitting.
Harris and Valen were handsome in their suits, starched fabric hugging their chests, their gazes fixed on Sam, hot and unwavering. Between them, Landon avoided stepping on the flowers in the lush grass.
We want to save all the plants and animals, Harris had told him. Valen had shown Landon how to step on the grass, so he didn’t crush the flowers.
Right now, Valen and Harris weren’t doing such a great job with that themselves. Sam wasn’t complaining, when their gazes were locked on him, when he met their eyes, and the instincts in his chest whispered alphas and family.
Mine, he wanted to say.
Harris and Valen stopped before him, and Landon smiled. “Dad,” he said, pulling his hands from Valen and Harris, reaching for Sam instead.
Sam picked Landon up—he was getting heavy, now. “Hey, Landon.” Sam kissed his forehead. “Sit with Grandma for a bit, okay?”
Landon nodded, and Mom took him into her arms, carrying him off to the first row.
Then Sam looked up, met Harris and Valen’s eyes, and felt the urge to bow his head, to submit to the alphas he trusted most.
“We’re here today to witness the joining of these three,” the minister said.
The three of them joined hands, forming a circle. Valen and Harris’ hands were warm, and they wore matching grins on their faces. Their gazes raked over Sam, and Sam blushed under their attention.
It never got old, having his alphas’ eyes on him. Never got old, either, having them pin him to the bed, or washing his hair, or kissing his belly.
Valen squeezed Sam’s hand, and Harris brushed his thumb over Sam’s knuckles.
“Sam Brentwood, do you take Valen Tolstoy and Harrison Fields to be your rightful alphas?”
“I do,” Sam said, meeting their eyes. Still couldn’t believe he was doing this, after the bonding, and the signing, and everything else they’d been through. He was fortunate—very much so.
“Valen Tolstoy, do you take Sam Brentwood to be your rightful omega, and Harrison Fields to be your rightful alpha?”
“Yeah,” Valen said, his eyes dark. “I do.” He shared a look with Harris. Then he met Sam’s eyes, and Sam read protectiveness, and devotion. His breath caught.
“Harrison Fields, do you take Sam Brentwood to be your rightful omega, and Valen Tolstoy to be your rightful alpha?”
“I do,” Harris said. His gaze burned with pride and warmth, and his mouth curled into a tiny smile. Sam squeezed his hand. Harris squeezed back.
“You may exchange your rings,” the minister said, holding out the gleaming gold rings.
Harris took the smallest, meeting Sam’s eyes. This wasn’t a relationship Sam had expected. Harris had been with Valen first, and he’d allowed Sam closer to his own lover. Then Sam had found kindness in Harris, and acceptance, and he could no longer let Harris go.
Harris slipped the ring onto Sam’s finger, and Sam lowered his head—Harris was his alpha. Harris pressed a kiss to Sam’s hand.
Valen took Harris’ ring and hand, and Sam watched as they exchanged another glance. It hadn’t been easy for them, either, first hiding their relationship, and now making it public. Sam held his breath.
Valen slid Harris’ ring onto his finger, and murmured, “Alpha.”
“Yours,” Harris murmured back. Valen’s throat worked; he blinked hard.
Then Sam took the last ring, and met Valen’s eyes. Back when he’d first gotten together with Valen in high school, he’d never anticipated this, that Valen would leave but return again. That Valen would stay this time. Valen had taught Sam to believe in a relationship, had seen Sam for who he was.
Sam slipped the ring onto Valen’s finger, and Valen took his hand, kissing his knuckles. Sam’s heart swelled. He dipped his chin, and Valen pressed a kiss to his forehead.
“I pronounce you three married,” the minister said. “You may kiss.”
Valen slanted his lips, kissing Sam. He slipped into Sam’s mouth, touched their tongues briefly. Then Harris stepped in, and Sam kissed him, too. Touched their tongues.
When Harris pulled away, Sam held still. Harris and Valen had been debating over this for the past few nights, how much intimacy to show the public. They looked at each other now, their eyes intent.
“Daddy,” Landon said a few paces away, clapping his hands. “Papa!”
Then Landon puckered his lips, and Harris laughed.
“Guess it’s decided, then,” Valen said, smirking.
Harris caught Valen by the nape, hauled him in, and kissed him too. The audience applauded; Sam’s heart soared. Whistles rang through the crowd. Harris slipped his arms around
