Single Mother of a Werewolf Baby novel Chapter 207

Chapter 207: Last Minute Preparation

Outside the door, Ethan didn’t move. For a moment, he wasn’t even sure he’d breathed. The corridor around him felt strangely still, as though the very air was holding its breath in witness. He stood there, staring at the closed door, the faint echo of it shutting still resonating in his ears.

It had been his first kiss. Not the kiss he had imagined in countless quiet moments, but a simple, fleeting brush... her lips just touching his. By most measures, it couldn’t even be called a kiss. And yet his entire mind was awash with sweetness, richer than honey... because it had come from her.

The warmth of Eleanor’s lips lingered, ghostlike, against his own. He could recall their exact softness, the light pressure, the way the moment had vanished almost as soon as it had begun. But in that brief heartbeat, it had etched itself into him, indelible.

For years, he had carried his feelings for her with quiet patience... open enough for her to see, steady enough for her to trust. He had made himself a presence she could lean on without hesitation. She knew he loved her; he had shown her, time and again, without fanfare, without demands. And he had always left the choice in her hands.

Because he knew the shadows she carried. The trauma from that dreadful past, the scars left by her former fiancé and her adoptive family... these wounds were not that faded in months or even years. They clung like a hidden scar beneath the skin, shaping the way she held herself apart. He had vowed never to push past that barrier, knowing that trust could never be taken... it had to be given.

His thoughts kept circling back to her eyes in that split second before it happened... fixed on him, yet distant, as though she had been answering some silent summons. That look alone might have undone him; the kiss had simply sealed it.

Werewolves measured time differently from humans. Even in the worst of circumstances, he might have centuries ahead of him... five hundred years, perhaps more, if fate was kind. And if they ascended together, eight or ten centuries would not be impossible. Such longevity made moments like this feel both fleeting and monumental. There was no need to rush. No need to reach for something not yet ready.

He was resolute in his vow to wait for her to heal... to one day meet him without that flicker of guardedness in her gaze. And if that day took years, or decades, it would not matter. His place was at her side, for as long as she wished him there. He knew, with an instinct that came from deeper than thought, that she was his fated one. He had always felt the connection, even when she was a mere human, the quiet blessing of the Moon Goddess.

But tonight... tonight felt like more than hope. It felt like a sign. That simple peck, that momentary brush, had unfolded in him like a flower in sunlight. To him, it was her first step towards acceptance.

Slowly, the corners of his mouth lifted, and the heaviness he had carried for so long softened into something warm and unshakable. His smile deepened as he turned from her door and made his way down the quiet corridor towards his own room. The sweetness of her kiss followed him with every step.

***

Eleanor woke early. Freya was still clinging to her like an octopus, her small limbs wrapped tightly around her. With gentle care, Eleanor eased her daughter’s arms apart and settled her into a more comfortable position. She then slipped into the bathroom to freshen up.

When she emerged, Freya was still fast asleep. Not wanting to disturb her, Eleanor moved quietly, changing into her clothes and preparing for the day ahead. Fiona had told her she wouldn’t need to carry any personal belongings... the academy would provide everything, so she was spared the trouble of packing clothes or accessories.

Once ready, she eased the bedroom door open and stepped into the corridor. Today was Freya’s day off from school, so Eleanor decided to let her sleep a little longer.

She made her way to the study and called Teresa to join her.

Inside, she switched on her laptop and said, "Nora, connect to your Central AI System."

In an instant, the clone of Nora embedded in Eleanor’s mind scanned her brainwave patterns for authentication. Eleanor had programmed this security measure to guard against the possibility of someone stronger infiltrating her mind and seizing control of Nora.

She understood the dangers of creating an autonomous super-system like Nora. In the wrong hands, it could wield the power to destroy entire civilisations. That was why she had implemented every safeguard possible with current technology.

Nora was capable of automatically updating herself whenever new variables or advancements arose. Her prime directive, aside from serving Eleanor, was to expel all other users and remain constantly up to date by drawing upon every available resource.

When Eleanor’s signal reached the nearest data centre, it began relaying the transmission to other centres holding fragments of the central system. The clone’s data merged seamlessly with the main AI’s knowledge, updating in real time.

Within seconds, Nora’s voice replied, "Central System connected."

"Good," Eleanor said. "Give me a system update."

"Initiating system update," Nora responded. "Synchronising all veiled nodes... encrypting data streams... core fragments aligned at fifty-three thousand eight hundred and forty-two out of one hundred thousand distributed vectors. Cross-redundancy confirmed. No hostile infiltration detected. Update applied to all instances."

Eleanor nodded. "Good. I may be unavailable for some time. Continue consolidating core fragments. There will be several satellites and ground stations connected to the God Eye in my absence... each equipped with several hundred fragments. Locate them and strengthen your core."

She paused before adding, "Put all my companies under surveillance. If you detect any problems, or have suggestions to improve operations at any of my facilities, send an email to Teresa from my account. Match my writing style so she believes it comes from me. Other than Teresa, do not contact anyone, even if you find another optimal point. Understand?"

"Yes," Nora said. "What about surveillance on your home and vehicles?"

"No need to report that to Teresa," Eleanor replied. "If anyone attempts to breach security, the programmed alarm will be sufficient."

Just then, she heard a knock at the door.