Aurora had followed the directions just as Doctor Cullen had ordered, keeping the gauze dry and clean, while trying not to wet it. She was also eternally grateful that the days following her mishap, the weather had been abysmal, giving her an excuse to stay home, rather than wander back out into the forest.

Spending the days in her cozy new home, she used the time to edit her photos and send them to Bruce, who only replied with one-word emails, like "This is fine." or "Got it." She was slightly annoyed at his lack of feedback, but she knew herself well enough to know the photos she had taken were stunning.

One particularly damp and foggy afternoon, as Aurora sat in her office, thumbing through a few ideas for photo composition for the next part of her photo spread series, her mind drifted back to Doctor Cullen. She smirked a little at herself, remembering the handsome doctor. But the more she thought of that day, the more questions began to swirl around her head. She was almost certain that she had not lost so much blood as to mistake the man's eye color, after all, she was a stickler was for detail – and eyes had a particularly symbolic meaning in photography – many believed they were windows into the soul. Then again, with that hideous fluorescent lighting, perhaps she really had been mistaken. Another question biting at her, was why the good doctor never actually touched her.

"So, you want him to touch you?" she sneered at herself.

Shaking her head, trying to refocus her energies on her photo assignment, another blaring question cut through her focus. How did he know Aurora was also planning on taking photos in the night? She had never told him, nor had she even mentioned her photoshoot plans to him. Then again, in such a small town, gossip tends to have a way of getting around in light-speed time. But why would townspeople gossip about her? She hadn't even been into the town itself, other than the hospital visit. Rolling her eyes, she mentally chided herself.

"I guess this is my new form of procrastinating," she whispered.

She stretched at her desk, deciding it was best not to continue to daydream of the handsome doctor or the strange nuances that had occurred. Trotting to the kitchen as her stomach growled, Aurora decided it was time for lunch. Opening the stainless-steel fridge, she realized that today was the day she would have to go into town. Sighing, she closed the door as her stomach growled again from impatience. She patted her taut tummy and made her way to find her keys.

Aurora drove into the small town and managed to find a small market with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and even a great local butcher shop. Everyone in town, as small towns want to do, stared openly at the newcomer and eyed her car. Though, Aurora realized that most people were quite pleasant and curious, rather than suspicious. After procuring all that she needed to stock her fridge, Aurora decided it was time to head home. The clouds and fog were also clearing up slowly, which meant, if Aurora's arm felt up to it, she might be able to venture back into the forest for some more photos.

Once Aurora got home and unpacked her shopping into the fridge, she was pleasantly surprised that the sun was shining quite brightly on this Wednesday afternoon. She forgot all about her hunger and left the fridge untouched. Bouncing into her office, she grabbed her camera bag and camera. Aurora looked down at her arm. The new bandage she applied was fresh and the wound had not bled in days. It was still quite painful to move her elbow, but the pain was nowhere near what she had experienced before. Touching the bandage gently, she decided she was mended enough to go out for photos, mentally reminding herself to watch where she was walking.

She made her way outside, camera slung over her shoulder, camera bag on her back. Breathing in the warmed air of the forest and the fresh soil, she marched inside the tangle of bushes and shrubs.

Aurora spent much of the early afternoon in the forest, wandering to and fro. On this photo trip, Aurora didn't spy any wild creatures or legendary monsters of the mist, but she had taken some exquisite macro-photos of flowers and trees. She was also feeling rather lucky as the sunny day had once again turned gloomy, and dark pewter clouds were rolling in from the South as Aurora finished up her photo session. As she made her way back to her home, her head down, scanning the photos on her camera, she didn't at first hear her name being called.

"Aurora, what a pleasant surprise," repeated a vaguely familiar voice.

Aurora's head snapped back up. A little ways ahead of her was none other than Dr. Cullen.

"Oh… H… Hi," she replied, slightly confused.

Carlisle nodded, a soft smiling playing on his lips.

"I hope I didn't scare you," he said.

Aurora shook her head, smiling.

"No, no, not at all. I just tend to get very wrapped up in my work and sort of forgetting the world," she said.

Carlisle nodded. He hadn't planned on seeking her out after the discussion with his family. Though Edward had told Carlisle he knew in his very being that Carlisle would never have given in to his base needs and he implored him to have more faith in himself. Though Carlisle was touched by his youngest son's vote of confidence, he was still quite uneasy. In fact, he had actively tried to put her out of his thoughts, though it was no easy feat. The only reason he had ventured out into the forest was to clear his mind. It seemed fate had other plans for him. Alice must be in seventh heaven now, he thought, smirking wryly.

"Do you enjoy going out for walks in the forest?" Aurora asked.

Carlisle's attention was brought back to the woman in front of him.

"I find it's the best way to de-stress," he replied.

Carlisle made his way towards Aurora, though he himself was unsure why he was doing so. It was as if she held a rather powerful spell on him, one that he couldn't and didn't want to be free from. He stretched his hands out.

"May I?" he asked nodding towards the camera.

Aurora looked confused but slowly began to laugh.

"Oh of course," she giggled.

She handed over the camera to him. He took the surprisingly heavy equipment and looked through a few of her photos. His eyes lighting up.

"Aurora, you have quite a gift," he said softly. "These photos are very… They certainly capture the exquisite beauty of nature."

Carlisle looked up at Aurora, who blushed hard. She shook her head, trying to hide her blush as strands of damp hair fell around her face.

"Oh, these aren't really my best. I was hoping to get a bear or even a wolf, but it seems today was not my lucky day," she said softly.

Carlisle arched an eyebrow.

"Isn't that quite dangerous? To get a photo like that you need to be quite close," he asked, eyeing her.

"Well yes, but I found some of my best work always came with a bit of a scare or danger," she said. "I actually have to admit, the photos where there's that sense of danger, those are my favorite. There's just something about the rush, the thrill, it' very…"

"Exhilarating," Carlisle breathed, finishing her sentence for her.

Aurora looked up, quite startled at the doctor. His eyes were trained on her. She gasped as the golden eyes stared intently at her. Aurora observed the man in front of her closer. Though the forest didn't have the best light, she could see that Doctor Cullen's skin was quite pale, almost a pure white, but it was as smooth a Venetian marble. His strong jawline and his pale blonde hair made him look like someone who had been used as a model for a Greek sculpture. But it was his lips that were in stark contrast to the rest of his face. They were almost cherry-red. What it must be like to be kissed by those lips. She felt her cheeks burn hot as she realized she had been ogling the doctor openly. She stared down at her boots and cleared her throat.

"I guess that's why I chose photography. I can capture beauty and chase danger," she almost whispered.

Carlisle's lips turned into a wide and seductive smile.

"It is a potent mix isn't it?" he asked her.

Aurora nodded. Finally, Carlisle offered her camera back to her. She stepped slightly closer to him to retrieve the camera, and as she was taking it from his hands, his fingertips brushed over hers. Aurora would only later register the jolt that ran through her fingers and across her entire body was from his touch. She arched an eyebrow. His fingers were so cold, almost like touching a glacier. She inwardly gasped.

"Well Aurora, I do hope you find the beauty and the danger you're looking for," Carlisle told her. "You'll have to tell me if you run into any true monsters out here."

He smirked wider, enjoying his own private joke. Aurora, who was thoroughly flustered only nodded without saying anything more. She began to make her way down the hill. Carlisle nodded goodbye to her and watched her figure slowly descend back towards her home. As she was walking away, the insidious need and hunger that had ensnared Carlisle during his first meeting with her crept into his mind and filled his body.

In his mind's eye, he could see himself swiftly running up behind her, slamming her into a nearby tree trunk, lifting her off the ground. He would press his body into hers and pin her hands above her head. She would squirm against his rock-hard body and it would only delight him more. She would peer deep into his eyes, whispering hoarsely for him to let her go. He would tighten his grip on her wrists as he would lower his face to hers, feeling her heart thundering in her ribcage. He would bite at her lips first softly, then harder until he could feel the warm taste of her blood on his tongue. She would moan out first in pain, then in… want, begging him.

"Carlisle, please… Don't stop," she would purr.

By the time he snapped back to reality, Aurora was long gone. Carlisle staggered over to a nearby boulder, trying to steady himself. The hunger purred and hummed and then vanished leaving Carlisle panting and unsteady on his feet.