15 years ago, xxxy
"YOU ARE TOO YOUNG to be thinking about life, Kamil."
The boy doesn't react to the words, his brain doesn't compute the name. That isn't his name. And when the Alpha sits beside him, he startles and screams Ah!, embarrassment colouring his cheeks at the Alpha's amused smile.
Clearing his throat, he shrugs off the embarrassment and squares his shoulders but he must've looked stupid because the Alpha ruffles his hair.
"What are you drawing? Stick figures?"
"No. A tree" he points at the ground with the stick in his hand, "and tree stump."
The Alpha narrows her eyes and leans forward. Glanced at him and nods slowly. "Mmm. I see it now. That's a tree stump? Not a.. Okay. I see it."
"You're not a very good liar, Alpha."
"You know when someone's lying? Little boys lie nowadays?"