Single Mother of a Werewolf Baby novel Chapter 289

Chapter 289: Thunderbolt (Level-2)

Professor Charles Scott Sherrington stood beside Eleanor’s bed throughout the entire process. He watched the pain twist her expression as the power began to take hold of her body. A low, muffled cry escaped her lips as expected, given the strain... but what he did not expect was the sudden silence that followed.

For a moment, panic gripped him. Had she lost consciousness? That would mean the process had failed, granting her only an unstable, uneven surge of power.

He looked closer. Her face had grown strangely serene. Her eyes were closed, but her breathing was steady. Beneath that calm exterior, he could sense her directing the torrent of energy through her body. The faint crease between her brows was the only sign that she was still enduring the pain. He had never witnessed such control... not in any cadet, nor in any account he had ever read.

What astonished him even more was the electricity sparking over her body after the transformation. The sheer magnitude of it was unlike anything he had seen. Among the werewolves, he could only compare it to members of the Lycos Clan... but even they displayed such intensity only after ascending.

"Isn’t she from the Raynor Clan? he thought, baffled. Why does she possess such immense power? Why did her Thunderbolt bloodline evolve instead of Mind Reaver? And how could she endure such pain while her body was flooded with that much energy?" A dozen questions filled his mind, but none had answers.

Still, he remained at her side, ready to intervene should anything go wrong. If she lost control, he would activate the guiding circuits on the machines... inefficient, yes, but safe enough to prevent her from harm.

Finally, after long minutes that felt like hours, the violent energy subsided. Silence returned. Eleanor, now fully in her wolf form, lay motionless... sleeping peacefully. It was natural; after such torment, the body sought rest to heal itself.

He knew his part was done. Her body would revert to its human form within the hour. Her robe, he noted, might be scorched or torn in places from the excess electricity. Best to send a female attendant to assist her when she woke.

After unfastening Eleanor’s restraints, Professor Sherrington quietly left the room, closing the door behind him. He went to the reception and instructed them to send a female attendant in half an hour, along with a meat pack prepared for werewolf awakenings. The Bloodline Institute was well equipped for such cases... transformations and awakenings were not uncommon there. He paid for the meal and a few additional supplements before departing the institute.

***

Eleanor awoke just over an hour later. Her mind was foggy at first; for a moment, she thought she was back in her dormitory. Then memory returned... the searing pain, the roaring energy flooding from her heart, and the transformation that had followed.

She looked around. The professor was gone. A large plate sat on the table, covered, and the faint aroma of roasted meat lingered in the air. She immediately understood that the professor had arranged it for her.

The moment the thought of food entered her mind, her stomach growled loudly. Hunger struck her with such ferocity that she felt she could devour an entire cow. She pushed herself upright instinctively but nearly toppled off the bed... her balance was off, her centre of gravity shifted.

Sitting back down, she thought, My strength has increased. My body has changed as well. My muscles feel tighter than before. I need to adjust to this new strength first... otherwise, accidents might happen.

Her thoughts drifted to years past, to the first time she had turned into a wolf. She had been pregnant then, cautious with every movement. Yet the sudden surge in her strength had made even simple actions dangerous. She had shattered glasses while drinking water, missed steps on the stairs when her strength faltered, stumbled forward from the uneven control of her changing body.

"Eleanor, you’ve been through this before. This time, it will be easier. Baby steps... control over the limbs first," she said aloud, encouraging herself.

She began with her fingers and hands. At first, her movements were clumsy and uneven, but within a couple of minutes, her coordination returned. Then she turned her focus to her legs and realised she was still wearing her boots.

Deciding not to remove them, she continued her practice as they were. She moved her legs slowly, testing her balance. When she felt confident enough, she stood and took a cautious step forward. Her motions were stiff and heavy at first, but as she walked around the room, her steps began to feel steadier... almost natural.

I’ll practise properly after I eat, she thought. Hunger was gnawing at her insides.

She sat down at the table and lifted the cover from the plate. Inside was a large roasted turkey, surrounded by sauces and a small side of salad. She couldn’t wait any longer. She devoured the meal in minutes... barely five minutes had passed before there was nothing left but clean porcelain. The food filled her, but only partially; her body demanded more.

As she leaned back in the chair, she noticed several burn marks across the chest of her robe. Upon closer inspection, she found that the uniform beneath was even more damaged, torn in multiple places. She grimaced.

I need to go and change my clothes first, she thought.

"Master, there’s no need," Nora’s voice chimed suddenly in her mind. "The staff who delivered your food have gone to fetch a new uniform."

"Oh, Nora!" Eleanor exclaimed aloud. "I completely forgot about you. Sorry... how do you know?"

"Two staff members entered while you were asleep," Nora replied. "One checked your condition, and the other brought the food. The one who examined you noticed the damage to your clothing and instructed the other to fetch a replacement from your dormitory. She said your current uniform was beyond repair."

"That’s a relief," Eleanor said, exhaling. "What’s the condition of my body now?"

"Your vitals are stable. Nanobots are functioning perfectly. Your regeneration synchronised well with your transformation," Nora reported. "However, I recommend that you check your status yourself."

Eleanor nodded. With a thought, a translucent screen materialised before her eyes.

[Status Screen]

Cadet Name: Eleanor Elizabeth Raynor

Cadet Number: 10156659

Institution: Ascendance Academy of Midgard

Predator’s Awareness [Passive] – Senses minute shifts in an opponent’s intent or movement.

Voltaic Strikes [Active/Passive] – Imbues physical attacks with lightning damage. Damage output increased when active with extra armour penetration.

Overdrive Focus [Active] – Channels latent energy into heightened speed and reflexes for a brief duration. While using lightning attacks, speed and reflexes increased by an additional 50%.

Mind Arts:

Mental Lock [Active] – Locks onto a chosen target, suppressing all distractions until the kill is achieved.

Clarity Veil [Passive] – Immunity to illusions, mind-control, and memory tampering.

Memory Erasure [Active] – Erases selected memories from weaker beings for a limited span.

Thunderbolt Arts:

Bolt Step [Active] – Enables short-range, lightning-fast dashes that defy conventional movement.

Static Flash [Active] – Emits a blinding burst of light and electricity to disorient foes.

Lightning Touch [Active] – Channel energy through fingertips, releasing a concentrated surge of electricity upon contact. It can be used as a high-voltage cutting tool.

Lightning Projectile [Active] – A focused sphere of charged energy hurled from the palm. Simple but versatile, it provided excellent reach for early combat training. Can be overcharged for a larger, slower, area-of-impact blast.

Call Lightning [Active] – After a brief channelling time, calls down a devastating bolt of natural lightning from the sky upon a single target. Gains homing properties against targets marked by Electroreception.

"My Electroreception has changed," Eleanor murmured as her eyes scanned the display. "Oh! How is anyone supposed to memorise this many bio-electric signatures? Luckily, I have an eidetic memory. This ability seems made for me. Even if I lost my sight, I could still find people by their signatures."

"True," Nora replied. "But you’re far from proficient yet. You’ll need extensive training before you can claim mastery. I’m surprised you’re not more interested in your Thunderbolt bloodline."

"What?" Eleanor blinked, looking back at the screen. "Oh! I completely missed that part!" Her eyes widened. "It’s level two now! But why didn’t my Mind Reaver bloodline improve? I thought my primary one would advance first." She let out an irritated groan. "I’m still struggling to control lightning, and that’s the one that gets upgraded?"