Chapter 254

Lucius's POV I sat in the corner of a quiet coffee shop, nursing my cup. The café was nearly empty, soft jazz playing in the background as my eyes remained fixed on the pedestrian crossing outside. Through the window, I watched her, the slender figure in a black cashmere coat. Her hair whipped around her face in the winter wind, untamed and beautiful. My fingers itched to brush those wild strands away from her face. "She looks thinner," I murmured. Raven stirred within me, his presence urgent and restless. "Go to her. She's our mate." "I can't," I whispered, too softly for anyone to hear. Originally, I had only planned to catch a glimpse of Claire as she passed by after work. But luck was on my side today. A ninety-five second red light gave me extra moments to memorize every detail of her face. Despite the weight loss, she looked healthy. Her skin remained fair even against the harsh winter backdrop. The light finally changed to green, and Claire began crossing with the crowd. I rose