The Mute Luna

Chapter 5: The Hotel

The drive to wherever they were going was long. Carter wasn't sure where exactly they were going but she knew they were headed to a hotel to rest, eat, possibly bathe, then get ready for the ball the next day. Almost no one in the pack knew where the ball or where the hotel was, mainly in a secret location so no rogues could come. All Carter knew was she was nervous, tired and irritated by the third hour of driving.

'This is stupid.' She wrote and showed it to Joey, who was lazily draped across a soft chair in the limo. His hair was messy and his eyes were dropped from lack of sleep but his spirits seemed much higher than hers. His eyes moved left to right as he read, then he looked up and smiled at her. 

“You're not usually this moody.” He commented. Carter rolled her eyes and stood, though the limo was still moving. She was tempted to look out the window and see where they were but avoided it. The idea of knowing where they were would maybe calm her a little but also could frighten her more. Where could they be? Vegas? New York? She heard the sounds of car horns and voices often, maybe they were in a city. 

Joey studied her as she sat next to him on the floor, her eyes remaining on the white carpet. “Still nervous?” Carter ignored the question and laid her white board and marker next to her, leaning back and closing her eyes. She didn't feel like writing, she just wanted to sleep. 

“It feels like we're in The Hunger Games kinda.” He continued. “We're taken away from home, dressed up and paraded around, all just to survive a massive dance that could either make or break us. I don't know if I should be mad or should get ready for my interview with Caesar Flickerman.” 

A small smile tugged on Carter's face until she grinned, looking at him. They both cracked up, Carter laughing silently of course. That was the thing that she loved about her best friend the most; his humor. Joey always had a way of making her smile when she was scared or angry, he always knew what to do or say. And since her father was a big important part of the pack, the big strong Alpha, he didn't spend much time with her as a father should. And her mother.. 

No, Joey was her best friend, brother, everything she really needed. He wasn't her mate but he was just as good as one. He had her back, always. And that was more than enough for her. 

Of course for the next two hours, Joey played The Hunger Games on the TV hanging on the limo wall. Carter was glad for the distraction, her mind wandering over to nothing but the movie and helping her relax, though her body was sore from sitting in the car for so long. Plus, Carter liked the movie anyway. 

“I think Katniss should have fallen for Peeta.” Joey noted as the credits for the movie played, the screen growing darker. “He clearly loved her more than life to give everything for her and Gale didn't. I like them two together better.” Carter rubbed her eyes and sat up smiling lazily, more sleepy than ever. It was at that time that she wished she could have shifted into a wolf as everyone in her pack did so she could stretch her body. 

She looked around and saw out the window that the car must have been slowing. She picked up her white board and wrote. 'How long till we arrive?' She showed it to Joey. He shrugged and reached over to grab a bottle of water. “We may be there now.” He took a swig of water then looked out the window.

A smile spread across his face. “Hey, look out there.” His eyes remained on the outside world so Carter followed his gaze and silently gasped when she saw where they were. 

They were in front of a large, mansion-like hotel. How they even could have been in such a tropical looking place, Carter didn't know. The large white hotel was huge and very fancy. It was white with gold windows and trim, amber curtains swaying in the breeze. It was a large square shape, surrounding a large blue pool, with a large lake and dock behind it. Trees were planted along the hotel near the marble sidewalk, decorated with sunning chairs and people walking along. 

The driveway to the hotel was long and first went past a set of golden gates, then went to the large glass doors of the hotel, then a small parking lot that was hidden from view. The long line of limos pulled up one by one to the front doors, men in red suits rushing to grab bags, help women step from their cars and show people in. No other people were seen near the pool or outside, all of the rooms probably taken by the pack members. 

“Didn't think we'd be staying in a place this nice.” Joey said, his mouth hanging open as well as Carter's. She nodded, trying to understand how her father could have planned and paid for everyone to stay. There were only about a hundred and fifty people in her pack but many of the pack members were seventeen, maybe thirty or forty. It worried her some, though she was still mad at her father.

The car finally pulled up and someone opened the door. “Sir,” A man greeted Joey. Joey grinned at Carter and stepped out, not uncomfortable at all with the overwhelming beauty of the hotel. Men rushed around to the trunk of the limo to grab all of the bags, a woman taking the long, delicate bag holding Carter's dress. 

Carter hesitated, then stepped out onto the sidewalk. Bellhops rushed the luggage inside while a woman in a black pant suit walked up, red hair in a bun with her glass on the bridge of her nose. “Hello,” She greeted stiffly. She glanced at a clipboard in her hands and pulled out a pen. “I am Mrs. Cat, owner of this hotel and..” She looked at Carter up and down, making Carter nervous. This woman looked strict and mean.

“And you are?” She asked. Carter was about to take out her white board, embarrassed about her not speaking, but Joey saved her. “I'm Joey Black and this is Carter Sparks.” He pulled Carter closer into his side protectively, glaring at the woman. He must have not liked the way Mrs. Cat looked at Carter, the way many people who bullied her looked.

Mrs. Cat glared back but wrote something on her board. “Since you both here are and clearly-” she made it clearly sound like a heavy insult- “not mates, you may share a room. Your room is number 425, second to last floor. You may get settled then there is a banquet at six o'clock that you should attend. It will inform you more on the ball that will be held in the ball room tomorrow night. Good day.'' 

She spun on her heel and walked off to the next car. Joey looked at Carter and smirked, making them both c***k up. But as Carter looked up at the large hotel, something in her felt strange. Here, she was going to meet her mate. Here, she was going to be rejected by her mate. And it would be okay.