Seventy (I)

The room is silent as Avery gapes at the Mating Panel in shock.

"You have to be kidding," Roman interjects after neither of them speaks for a few minutes.

"No, we wouldn't kid about this sort of thing," one of the men on the panel interrupts, his face a picture of horror.

"Having a mate is a good thing," the panel's head declares, scowling at Avery and Roman.

Avery is pale in the face, and her eyes seem wider than usual as she stares around the room.

"What the fuck," she whispers to herself.

Sonya is yipping, confused between being thrilled over the concept that she does have a mate, and also being miserable that it's Roman.

"I don't want a mate," Avery clears her throat, looking at the woman in charge sternly.

"You don't get to refuse what the Goddess has given you, please don't be so disrespectful of her divine wishes and decisions," the woman snaps, clearly on the verge of losing her temper at the two Alpha's unusual reactions.

"She is the one who had us declared mateless," Avery g