The white hospital hallway fell into a total, heavy silence. The bright fluorescent lights hummed softly overhead, but Julian could not hear anything except the wild pounding of his own heart.

For a few long seconds, his massive body stood completely frozen on the shiny floor tiles. His dark, sharp eyes stared straight at the chief physician, trying to process the simple words the older man had just spoken out loud.

Poison? No. Attack? No.

"P-pregnant?" Julian whispered, his deep, powerful voice cracking slightly for the first time in his entire life.

The chief physician lowered the medical file against his white coat, his warm smile growing even wider as...