Los Lobos (closed)

[caela]

-Closed for CGRaven and Myself-

Wolves. Joscelin Verai had always been intrigued by them but being a city girl born and bred didn't exactly give her much of a chance to study the amazing beasts that so captivated her. At 22 she'd had no real chance to see the amazing creatures except in books and with no real urge to leave the city she had to settle for what she could learn from books.

On her way to the library she had no idea that this day was different from any other. She never felt the eyes that watched the way her silver blonde hair glistened in the sun reaching almost to her waist. She was utterly unaware that behind her she was being followed and that unseen eyes could watch the sway of hips encased in butter soft denim. All she was aware of was the beautiful weather, the sun kissing her lightly tanned skin and the caress of a warm breeze that brought a smile to soft coral lips and made her chocolate eyes flash with merriment.

With a bookbag slung over her shoulder and the small earbuds of a ipod plugged into her ears she was the picture of a youthful student going about her business, utterly unaware of how her life could change in a heartbeat.

 

[cgraven]

The world had turned over many times sense that fateful night when his life had changed forever. To have been a man with all the hopes, joys, of a life and family stretching before you, to in an instance by one simple bite, a nothing, end all your hopes and dreams to become a creature feared and shunned by all who had known you, driven from your home and into the barren mountains to live like the creature each rising of the moon twisted you into. A month turned into a year, a year into a decade, a decade into a century. Yes, the world had turned over many times. Joseph Loup had watched the fall of the iron curtain, and with it came foreign dollars and the wild mountains soon became a playground for the newly rich and he found him self a refugee from even this remote area.

The sun was hot as he treads down the stone canyons of the city. The stale air, the smells of humans pressed around him, their stench filling his nostrils god how he longed for those high mountain passes. Then he caught a sent, sweet sensual and very seductive. All his senses peaked he franticly searched for the source of that enchanting sent and then he saw it, the sway of hips encased in butter soft denim, a bookbag slung over her shoulder and the small earbuds of a ipod plugged into her ears she was the picture of youthful innocence. She was lost in the embrace of her Ipod and about to step out into traffic when He grabbed her arm and sung her out of the path of the truck her body pressed to his.

Los Lobos

Her pin proclaimed with its photo of a wolf in the wild.

“So you Like wolves?”

He had just saved her life and that was the best line he could come up with. Damn hunting in these stone canyons with the stench of thousands of people was not going to be easy.

 

[caela]

Joscelin cried out in surprised when strong hands suddenly grabbed her and swung her off the crosswalk and into some strangers arms. Staring up at him she glared sharply seeing his lips move but not hearing what he said. Reaching up she plucked the earbuds from her ears before slapping him hard in the shoulder though he was a strongly build man so she doubted it really hurt him.

"Who do you think you are?! Do you think you can just grab any girl on the street?"

Glaring up at him she nearly smacked him against as she noted his gaze low on her pin and thinking initially that he was staring at her breasts. She glanced down however and saw the Los Lobos pin on her jacket and realized it was the wolf he was staring at.

"Well," she demanded sharply. "What the hell were you doing yanking me off the crosswalk like that?"

 

[cgraven]

"Who do you think you are?! Do you think you can just grab any girl on the street?"

Loup’s heavy ginger eyebrows arched and seem to knit together. His dark auburn hair streaked with sliver ruffled in the breeze. In that moment as she glared up at him, her soft chocolate eyes had taken on a hard cast. She was strong and very beautiful, Yes, she would make a magnificent mate.

"Well," she demanded sharply. "What the hell were you doing yanking me off the crosswalk like that?"

“ Truck come fast, hit you.”

His voice carried a thick eastern European accent, and his eyes where a most alarming shade dark hazel flicked with golden highlights almost like,….like a wolf’s.

“You like wolf?”

Again the question as if it had a special meaning to him.

“Have many picture wolf.”

He stammered and then as he saw the hard gaze in her eyes he let his hands drop from her arms. He bowed slightly,

“Pardon I not wish to offend. You ok I go”

His manners where stiff formal and the truth be told he had the look as if he needed a good meal and the gathering crowd that was helming them in seemed to make him nervous.

Miss is the old geezer bothering you?

A tall well built man, the football hero type asked her.

 

[caela]

“ Truck come fast, hit you.”

That got Joscelin's attention and her head whipped around to stare at the crosswalk and the heavy traffic flowing over it. It was true enough that she'd been more wrapped up in her music than in paying attention to the traffic and that during this time of day most of the people on the road were trying to get home and likely not paying as much attention as normal themselves.

Realizing he'd likely just saved her life she shuddered hard as a cold chill ran down her spine.

“Pardon I not wish to offend. You ok I go”

She'd heard him asking about the wolf pin again and there were more on her bag but he was still gripping her arm tight and until he let go she continued to glare. Once he let go her gaze softened and just as she was about to speak a jock interupted.

Miss is the old geezer bothering you?

"Not at all, thank you. He just startled me when he pulled me out of traffic. It's what I get for drowning out the city noise with my Ipod," she said and politely dimissed the jock with a wave before turning her gaze back to the wild eyed stranger.

"I'm sorry for being so rude. Thank you for pulling me out of the way of the truck. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going, the foolishness of youth to think we're invinceable I suppose," she said with a laugh and held out her hand in greeting, "I'm Joscelin and yes I like wolves, very much."

With a grin she pointed to a coffee shop across the street, "Can I buy you a cup of coffee to show my thanks?"

 

[cgraven]

"Not at all, thank you. He just startled me when he pulled me out of traffic.

The way she quietly dismissed the young man with such easy and grace spoke of a young woman of confidence. His attention was brought back as she turned to him again His eyes darted from her pin, He had no wish to again bring that cold icy glare to such soft beautiful eyes..

"I'm sorry for being so rude. Thank you for pulling me out of the way of the truck. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going, the foolishness of youth to think we're invinceable I suppose," she said with a laugh and held out her hand in greeting,

"I'm Joscelin and yes I like wolves, very much."
With a grin she pointed to a coffee shop across the street,

"Can I buy you a cup of coffee to show my thanks?"


“Joseph Loup”

He had taken her hand in his and instinctively brought it to his lips and kissed it.

When he straightened his cheeks where tinged with a touch of crimson.

“Yes Coffee thank you”

 

[caela]

“Joseph Loup”

Joscelin blinked when he lifted her hand and kissed the back of her knuckles instead of shaking it as she'd expected. Well he was older than her and his accent made it clear that he was from somewhere across the Atlantic though she hadn't a clue where or how to place it. The act had been so unexpected that she was tempted to wipe her hand off on her jeans but she figured that might considered rude and she simply let her hand fall to her side instead.

“Yes Coffee thank you”

The blush on his cheeks eased some of her surprise. Clearly he understood he'd made a cultural blunder but it was a sweet one and she wouldn't chastize him for it. Smiling warmly she made a point of checking for cars when the light at the crosswalk changed before taking his arm and leading him across.

Claiming an outside table at the small coffeeshop she grinned to a waitress and orders a hot tea. When he'd made his order she settled back in her seat and eyed him specutively. His clothes were outdated but well made adding to the whole eastern european image. Unfortunatly they hung on him slightly and despite the strength she'd felt in his arms it looked as if he hadn't eaten in quite awhile.

"So Mr. Loup it's obvious you're quite far from home, what brings you out to my neck of the woods, so to speak?"

 

[cgraven]

Her warm smile eased the embarrassment and the crimson in his cheeks faded to a light rose color. It took some effort for him not to take the young beauty’s arm as they crossed the busy avenue. It seemed that what he new as manners where considered inappropriate in this country. The result was that he felt more loss and out of place then ever.

His spirits brightened when this gorgeous young creature chose a side walk table. He would be able to stay out in the sun feel the wind on his face and enjoy her fragrance without the distraction of closely packed humans in a closed little box that they seemed to love to pass their pitiful little existences in.

When she ordered her tea, it snapped him back to the present.

“Coffee, and a bit of strudel if you have some Miss”

He was working hard to speak properly so that he could be under stood. There was an awkward moment of silence from which the charming young girl rescued him.

"So Mr. Loup it's obvious you're quite far from home, what brings you out to my neck of the woods, so to speak?"

He found her warm smile infectious, and loved the way the sun light danced in her sliver blonde hair. He longed to take her as his mate and yet he did not know how to start in this strange land of stone canyons with its throngs of people and their watching eyes.

“Yes far from home. I come to teach about Wolf at University. In My Country I was head Forester of Carpathian Mountains district. Many changes in last few years, many people come, build, wolves go no need for me so I come here teach course look for job as Forester in mountains.”

He paused taking a sip of his coffee and breaking off a piece of his strudel before carefully wrapping the rest and slipping it into his pocket for later.

“Is this city your home Joscelin?”

 

[caela]

“Yes far from home. I come to teach about Wolf at University. In My Country I was head Forester of Carpathian Mountains district. Many changes in last few years, many people come, build, wolves go no need for me so I come here teach course look for job as Forester in mountains.”

Joscelin looked up startled when he mentioned teaching a class on Wolves at the University. That meant that she had unwittingly asked one of her professors out for coffee! Biting her lower lips she decided to just let it slide. She'd let him know later that she would be in his class and that would be the end of it. There was certainly no harm in having a cup of coffee with a man who'd pulled her out of traffic.

“Is this city your home Joscelin?”

Again she smiled and held up a finger as she finished sipping at her tea, "Yes. I was born and raised here. It had it's own strange beauty and allure. I'm sure it must feel strange and confining to someone used to being up in the mountains however. What's it like where you're from Mr. Loup?"

 

[cgraven]

Again she smiled and held up a finger as she finished sipping at her tea,

"Yes. I was born and raised here. It had it's own strange beauty and allure. I'm sure it must feel strange and confining to someone used to being up in the mountains however. What's it like where you're from Mr. Loup?"

“Yes Joscelin your city presses in the noise, the closeness of so many is hard for me. In the Mountains the sun is on your face the sweet fragrance of the pine, and spruce. The mountains are like a lover one moment soft gentle the kiss of the wind soft as the caress of a butter flies wing…….”

As he spoke of the wolves of how they lived in families had but one mate for life there was a wistful far away look in his eyes, they seemed to look pass the young girl to a place only he could see.

“……………… at other times they are like a jealous lover the wind and the cold tearing at you like flashing nails. You swear you will never go back never let them hurt you again and then one night as you sit in a tavern a pretty girl on your knee their sent comes to you the call of the wolf drifts down from them and you know you must go must return or you will surely die.”

He shook his head as if trying to clear it and then he smiled and sun caught those flecks of gold in his eyes and he looked so like the wolves he loved.

“You have a beauty like those mountains a beauty that haunts the souls of men Joscelin.”

 

[caela]

Listening to him talk about his home a small smile curved Joscelin's lips. She could almost imagine their wild, ruggid beauty and the way they called to him. The imagery he used was so vibrant, especially when he spoke of the wolves, that she knew she was going to enjoy his class and for the first time she felt a longing to leave her city and seek out the wild untamed lands that the animals she so loved lived in.

“You have a beauty like those mountains a beauty that haunts the souls of men Joscelin.”

That made her blush and she glanced down and away, her teeth shyly biting her lower lip.

"T-thank you Mr. Loup," she stammered softly before managing to bring her gaze back up to his. "But if you're teaching the class I think you are at the University you can't say such things to me please. When classes start next week I'll be one of your students."

Sighing softly she sipped her tea and stared off into space for a moment, "Your home sounds beautiful."

 

[cgraven]

"T-thank you Mr. Loup," she stammered softly before managing to bring her gaze back up to his.

"But if you're teaching the class I think you are at the University you can't say such things to me please. When classes start next week I'll be one of your students."

Sighing softly she sipped her tea and stared off into space for a moment, "Your home sounds beautiful."

A look of befuddlement clouded his rugged features as if he did not understand what she was saying.

“Yes it is very beautiful. But why can I not tell you, you are beautiful when you are? Am I suppose to pretend that you are not or is it not permitted that I speak the truth if I teach at University.”

Loup’s eyes flashed and his hands knotted the muscles in his neck standing out a low soft growl escaped his lips.

“If I can not speak truth at University I will not teach.”

That low soft growl was frighteningly like that of a wolf.

 

[caela]

“If I can not speak truth at University I will not teach.”

Joscelin was startled at his sudden change of demeanor and reached out to place a soothing hand over his, her eyes clouding with concern at the low growl and the flashing light in his eyes that suddenly reminded her very much of hte wolves he would teach about.

"Of course you can speak the truth Mr. Loup! It's just that here a Professor and a student are expected to have a certain, professional, relationship. Such compliments walk the line of forming an emotional intimacy that while not entirely inappropriate does border on unethical.

It's about being fair to all the students. They tend to think that if you find one more attractive than the others or have a more personal relationship that it's harder to grade honestly."

Waiting until he calmed she finally took her hand away from his and settled back into her chair offering a tentative smile.

"Please don't think of not teaching, we need a professor whose actually dealt with wolves before and not just read about them."

 

[cgraven]

"Of course you can speak the truth Mr. Loup! It's just that here a Professor and a student are expected to have a certain, professional, relationship…….It's about being fair to all the students. They tend to think that if you find one more attractive than the others or have a more personal relationship that it's harder to grade honestly."

The touch of her hand on his enflamed a passion in him that had nothing to do with lecturing. There was a tenderness in her that he found so appealing and so innocent an innocence he had not seen in a very long time.

"Please don't think of not teaching, we need a professor whose actually dealt with wolves before and not just read about them."

There was an emptiness a profound loneliness when the stunning young blonde removed her hand from his. Even the tentative smile she offered could not dispel his loneliness.

“Of course how foolish of me, you are quite correct I do apologize. It is different in my country between men and women, age is not so much a matter.”

Loup raised his hand signaling the waitress for the bill. When it arrived Loup would not hear of Joscelin paying. He took out a small coin purse and counted out the bill and placed the last dollar he had as a tip. He patted the outside of his pocket to make sue the piece of strudel he had saved was still there.

 

[caela]

“Of course how foolish of me, you are quite correct I do apologize. It is different in my country between men and women, age is not so much a matter.”

"It's not really about age. It's about what's considered ethical between a teacher and a student. If you weren't going to be my professor there would have been nothing at all wrong with your compliment. It really was very sweet and I thank you for it."

She smiled and chatted with him a bit more before he called for the bill. She'd intended to pay it, after all she'd invited him as a means of thanking him for saving her life but laughed softly when he wouldn't hear of it. She wished all men were so well mannered as he seemed in his old world way and found herself wondering what it would be like to get to know him better.

That was a thought she had to shake away however. He was going to be her professor, it wasn't right.

"Well Mr. Loup," she said as she rose, "It was a pleasure meeting you and I'm looking forward to your class."

 

[cgraven]

"Well Mr. Loup," she said as she rose,

"It was a pleasure meeting you and I'm looking forward to your class."

Her eyes the way they sparkled when she laughed, and her laugh so soft so sensual. She was so near and she was slipping away from him. It was then that Joseph Loup grasped at a straw.

“Miss Verai…………”

no that was to formal to formal.

“………………Joscelin in my country a professor has University degree and is teacher and gives student grade for course. A lecture is specialist, has knowledge but may have no degree only knowledge………………………..”

Loup paused as if trying to find the words in English to make his meaning clear.

“……… he does not grade course, not give student grade. Is same in your country? I lecture on wolf, not professor.”

It was a bold move a move as bold as any wolf’s

 

[caela]

“……… he does not grade course, not give student grade. Is same in your country? I lecture on wolf, not professor.”

At that Joscelin laughed softly as she finally understood. He wasn't the Professor, just a guest speaker.

"We call them guest speakers not lecturers but yes it's the same. It will be wonderful to hear the experiences of someone whose actually seen wolves up close out in the wild," she said softly and her eyes were far away, clearly trying to imagine it herself.

Rising she held out a hand to him and smiled warmly once more, "Have you been here long Mr. Loup? I could perhaps show you around the campus a bit if you'd like. I was just on my way to the library."

 

[cgraven]

"We call them guest speakers not lecturers but yes it's the same…………”

As the girl spoke there was a far away look I her eyes one that he knew well. It was the look of longing to be somewhere else. Not the random desire to be some where else to avoid a particular predicament or for idle curiosity. Not it was the wistful look that spoke of a passionate longing to be in a certain place a place that those you might never have been their you knew in your soul that it was there that you belonged.

"Have you been here long Mr. Loup? I could perhaps show you around the campus a bit if you'd like. I was just on my way to the library."

Loup took her offered hand this time he did not kiss it but let it rest in both of his, his thumb gently stroked the back of her hand and he relished the silken texture of her skin. It was a brief passing touch light as the kiss of a butterfly’s wing gone almost before it registered.

“ I would love for you to be my guide Joscelin.”

Her hand still rested in his and a gentle smile bowed his lips.

 

[caela]

“ I would love for you to be my guide Joscelin.”

A light blush touched Joscelin's cheeks as his thumb lightly stroked her skin but she didn't pull her hand away but simply let it rest in his until she reached for her bag. Then she had to release his hand so she could sling the bag across her shoulder but with a warm grin she reached out and grabbed it again before pulling him forward to leave the small coffeeshop.

"The library is this way..." she said and started showing him the campus. As they walked she released his hand and pointed out different buildings and places of interest on campus. Most of the building were older but all were well kept and the campus itself was much less oppressive than the city. Here there was space and trees and a quiet that only a few blocks away was shattered by traffic.

It was like an oasis of sorts.

"Do they have you staying in faculty housing Mr. Loup or have they left you at loose ends to fend for yourself?"

 

[cgraven]

Joseph Loup found the rose blush that color Joscelin’s cheeks quite charming. His heart skipped a beat when she let go of his hand then almost immediately slipped her hand back into his and pulling him away in a burst of youthful eagerness. It seemed once she made up her mind Miss Joscelin Verai was quite determined and did not look back

"The library is this way..."

She was bright, bubbly, and animated as she pointed out the points of interest around the quadrangle. Loup found he Joscelin enchanting her enthusiasm infectious. Yes she would do she would be his mate the only question know was how to seduce her to a life that was so foreign from anything she knew or could conceive of.

Joseph found himself only half listening to her. he was mesmerized by her lithe supple body, the fluid graceful way she moved. Here in this quiet bit of greenery an oasis from the oppressive stone canyons that pressed in around him.

"Do they have you staying in faculty housing Mr. Loup or have they left you at loose ends to fend for yourself?"

“Joseph”

He gently corrected her and for the first time his lips bowed into a pleasant smile and his eyes sparkled.

“No a room at the campus lodge until some thing opens up in faculty housing a month maybe three .”

 

[caela]

“Joseph”

He gently corrected her and for the first time his lips bowed into a pleasant smile and his eyes sparkled.

“No a room at the campus lodge until some thing opens up in faculty housing a month maybe three .”

Joscelin returned his smile and nodded slightly at his correction. He was a speaker at her University so it seemed natural to call him Mister but if he preferred his given name she could do that too. It would just be hard to remember when they were in class to switch back.

"That campus lodge?! Do yourself a favor Joseph and get your own apartment. If the school is saying you'll have to wait up to three months for faculty housing then odds are they'll keep pushing it back until it's time for you to leave.

Besides the food is aweful, barely a notch up from cafeteria food and it's only better because it's free if you're staying there," she said with a laugh as they reached the library.

"Well this is my stop," she said with a gentle smile, "I have some studying to do but it was a pleasure meeting you Joseph and I hope I'll see you around campus," she said and offered him her hand to shake.

 

[cgraven]

"That campus lodge?! Do yourself a favor Joseph and get your own apartment…………….."Well this is my stop," she said with a gentle smile,

"I have some studying to do but it was a pleasure meeting you Joseph and I hope I'll see you around campus," she said and offered him her hand to shake.

He could see her slipping away and he knew he had to act boldly before she slipped through his fingers. He took her hand and holding it a moment longer than was necessary.

“Perhaps you help with search for apartment. This your city and I am stranger.”

Loup had decided that Miss Joscelin Verai was going to be his. He preferred seduction. He had seen an interest earlier but was it enough to make her throw caution to the wind? If she accepted him as a lover, the other might be easier for her to accept in time. If she however rebuffed the man then the hunter would still peruse her and claim her in an older more primal way.

Slowly he let his hand slip from hers The young beauty’s fate hung in the balance and she with out knowing it was about to decide which path it would take.

 

[caela]

“Perhaps you help with search for apartment. This your city and I am stranger.”

The question surprised her but he was right at the same time. Looking at him quietly she bit her lower lip and looked into those gold flecked eyes before finally nodding her head. The landlords in this town would eat him for breakfast.

"Ummmmm, yeah I can help I guess. The landlords in this city can be real jerks if you don't know how to deal with them. How about you meet me at the coffee shop tomorrow? Say around noon?

She made the offer while glancing over her shoulder at the library. She really did need to study and now that she was here it was the thing that was uppermost in her mind. Well that and the fact that her study partner was adorable. Not too bright but definate eye candy.

 

[cgraven]

"Ummmmm, yeah I can help I guess. The landlords in this city can be real jerks if you don't know how to deal with them. How about you meet me at the coffee shop tomorrow? Say around noon?

“ Yes noon will be fine.”

Loup bowed slightly at the waist and slowly let his hand slip from hers. He saw a young man coming up the walk towards. He came up to Joscelin and slipped his hand easily into hers he looked Loup up and down with the casual distain of youth for the older generation and seemed to dismiss him out of hand. His manner was almost possessive as if the young blonde was his and he knew it.

The hour was growing late and the moon would be rising soon even though it was still twenty days to the full moon Joseph Loup decided to stay to a try and turn routine and that was to be in before dark and the light of the moon could reach.

Till tomorrow then. He turned and left the young couple standing on the steps of the library. In the mountains, in his country he would know what to do but hear with humankind pressing all around was different and would require a different approach.

 

[caela]

“ Yes noon will be fine.”

Joscelin laughed softly as he bowed over her hand and grinned down at him, whatever she was about to say however was lost as Her study partner, Jeff, showed up. Glancing up at him she knew her surprise must have been evident when he threaded his fingers through hers and the only reason she didn't pull them away was to avoid making a scene though her hand remained slack in his and her body stiffened.

She thought he was eye candy (hell every girl on campus did) but unlike most of the other young women on campus, she had no interest in dating him. She wouldn't even be studying with him if their professor hadn't paired them up...most in hopes of improving Jeff's lackluster grades.

She definatly didn't like the possessive attitude he exuded or his blatant rudeness to Joseph.

Casting him a baleful glance that he seemed to find amusing she rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Joseph who she gave a gentle smile, "I'll see you tomorrow Joseph and I'll bring the paper so we can start apartment hunting for you."

With a final wave she disappeared into the library with Jeff.