BANISHED BY THE ALPHA, NOW THE ROGUE PACK TREASURE

Anger

Madison’s POV

I lay on the furs, only in a T-shirt and panties, when the alarm blared. I screamed and covered my ears.

The door burst open, and Beta Hunter rushed in. Without a word, he grabbed me by the arm and snatched up my pants with his other hand.

"Do not come out until I come and get you. Go inside now!" he shouted over his shoulder as he started dragging me down the hall toward the dungeons, my legs stumbling to keep up. At the doorway, he thrust my pants back into my hands.

As I stepped into the darkness, I caught a glimpse of him turning away. In the next second, I watched him shift, his human form changing before my eyes.

Holy Goddess, Hunter was a massive black wolf. I had never seen such a beautiful animal. An arm pulled me inside the darkness. Luna Adele.

You scared me, I told her, as I decided it was time to put my pants on. Get down.

Are we getting attacked? I asked, and she nodded. We wait here until it's over.

Maybe we should reinforce the walls. I noticed the most vulnerable part is the forest. But we could fix this.

Madison, you have been in the pack for barely four days, and you're already thinking about helping. I’m glad you think of us as your home, because it is. But I need you to talk to someone about the traumatic things you’ve been through. You still flinch when someone raises their voice, and last night you kept mumbling about the pain in your shoulder. No one should have to carry memories like that alone.

I don’t need to, sorry; I want to forget everything.

The door opened, and three bare-chested men, blood splattered on their skin, walked in. I realized one was Alpha Vance, another was Hunter, and the third was the lead warrior, Greg. They helped everyone out. Hunter walked me back to my little shack.

You’re safe, he said after we got inside. If you need anything, tell the guards patrolling. I nodded.

He left, and I started to sob, holding my chest. The door opened, and I wiped my tears fast.

Hunter sat next to me on the furs. Sleep, I understand you are scared.

I was not, but he didn’t know that. I was grateful to the people of the pack. Still, it hurt so much, remembering what my father and Jason did to me. My father was the one who handed me over, looking me in the eyes and saying I was no longer his daughter. Jason, whom I used to trust, was my mate—his fake promises. But the biggest betrayal was my own sister, who stood by and did nothing because she planned this. That pain ran deeper than any wound.

Close your eyes, Hunter commanded, more than telling me. He feels annoyed with me, probably. Luna Adele makes him watch for me.

Sleep took me fast. The dream became a nightmare.

Hunter’s POV

Okay, I bore the pain of seeing her upper body naked. Now, walking inside her room, I saw her in panties. The Goddess is punishing me. My brain can’t function with images of her naked body in mind.

I grabbed her pants and dragged her towards the dungeons. Then I turned and shifted.

We fought them, and when they realized we were too strong, they retreated. The West pack hates us. Why? Because we are rogues. Unpredictable, wild beasts. Years ago, their Alpha lost part of his territory to a rogue uprising, and since then, they've never trusted any pack that took in outsiders. Our very presence reminds them of what they lost and the fear that history might repeat itself.

I am different, too strong; my beast Hex has too much strength. Sometimes I’m scared of myself.

Walked back to the dungeon. I saw her eyes and knew. She had too much trauma in a span of a week. I will find them eventually and rip apart the ones who hurt her.

Madison was silent inside the room. I told her she was safe. Outside, I stood there, couldn’t bring myself to leave, wanted to hold her, have her sleep in my arms. Then I heard her cry. Opened the door and walked back inside.

Sleep; I will wait. She didn’t, because she probably questioned everything. Close your eyes.

After five minutes, she finally fell asleep. I petted her hair and lay next to her to inhale the scent. Madison was so beautiful; her lips were so red. I wanted to kiss them.

Okay, Hex said, you can think of that, but I can’t say anything.

Go to sleep, get out of my head, I told him. Her scent was calming me…

Dad, why… I heard, and my eyes opened. She had a bad dream, and I fell asleep next to her.

Shhhh, sleep, it's just a dream. I touched her face. She mumbled something, got closer… Hunter, she whispered.

Goddess, please let her feel the bond before I go insane. I covered her and left to get a few more hours of sleep.

The hard knock on my door woke me up. The lead warrior stood by the door as I opened it.

Beta Hunter, we have a situation.

Okay, let me get dressed, I told him, half asleep. When I walked outside, he was talking to another warrior, giving him orders.

Tell me, fast, I said, trying not to think of Madison.

Madison…you have to see…

I bolted to the mechanic's shop, but she was not there; it was too early in the morning. The noise was coming from behind the shops. Walked around the building to see her hitting the metal with a giant hammer and talking to herself. I couldn't startle her, so I walked up behind her and held her arms. I took the hammer out of her hand.

Let go of me, she shouted. I did, and she turned around. I knew that anger, the kind that burns inside until you get to extinguish it.

Madison, you need to talk about it; keeping it inside is not healthy.

She dropped to her knees and covered her face, sobbing. I lifted her and put my arms around her.

Cry, it's okay; I’ll do the laundry later.

Her body shook with a laugh between the sobs. She pulled away and looked at me.

I would never have guessed you'd be funny.

Please don't spread the word. I have a reputation to maintain.

Yeah, you are scary…

Hex chuckled. Told you, you’re scaring her.

Shut up, Hex.

How about we take a walk before everyone is up and about? She nodded and started walking toward the forest.

The day of the mating ceremony, I walked into my mate's room to find my sister between his legs.

Time seemed to freeze. For a moment, I could not breathe or move, my hands numb at my sides. My heart pounded in my chest, too loud in my ears. I stopped walking. Stared at her as Hex growled in my head.

That’s not the bad part; everyone knew, except me. Now she’s caring for my mate’s pup. He rejected me, humiliated me. I thought it was over, but my dad banned me and branded me.

The growl came out loud. She turned to me, and her eyes looked scared.

Madison, I need to tell you something… I said as MJ called her name.