BANISHED BY THE ALPHA, NOW THE ROGUE PACK TREASURE

Ruthless and deadly

Madison’s POV

Rune, my wolf, whimpered. I was not mad at her; we were born that way. Weak. Our mother died before I could walk, leaving us alone and struggling to survive. Rune's voice had always been quieter than the others, her paws hesitant, and the healers said our bond was faint. The elders decided something was wrong with us, saying we were touched by sickness or misfortune. I didn’t feel weak; that's how they saw me and branded me.

The wooden gates were lined with skulls, and then they opened. Ravenclaw Pack. Rogues. Ruthless and deadly.

The pack watched me as we walked on the muddy road. My heart was beating so fast that I held my chest. Kept my head high no matter what was going to happen next.

A woman older than me walked out of the large pack house, her hair braided around her head like a crown.

The lead wolf shifted. Alpha, she said, handing him a blanket. His lips kissed her head gently.

"Adele, we found this girl on the border," said a broad-shouldered man—I guessed he must be the pack's alpha. His tone was gentle, but his presence made the air shift. "She’s been banished from the Riverstone pack. Would you talk to her?"

" Of course, she said as he went inside, then turned to me. I took a step back.

“What’s your name?" she asked gently.

Madison, just…Madison.

Come inside, let’s get you some food and water. She gestured, and an omega scurried away.

We sat in the alpha’s office. The door opened, and the girl brought in a bowl of food and a metal canister of water.

Do you want to tell us what happened? she asked, her eyes landing on my upper arm.

My eyes locked on hers. I told her everything, then tears came, hot and angry.

Someone was standing behind me, but I didn’t hear anyone coming in. I suddenly felt the weight of his presence, the air tightening like a cloud passing over the sun. When I turned, I saw a massive man; his face seemed made of stone—hard, unyielding, carved in shadow. He smelled faintly of pine and iron. My breath caught, heart thudding strangely in my chest as his brows furrowed and his light gray eyes locked on me.

Hunter, this is Madison. They banished her…she sighed. " Look at me," she said to me. "This is Hunter, the beta of the pack." You can be at ease; no one will hurt you in this pack. Welcome to Ravenclaw.

Between tears, I looked at her. You mean that?

Of course. Now rest, and tomorrow we will find something for you to do.

I bowed to her. Thank you, Luna; you won’t regret it. I turned and bumped into Hunter. He was like a wall; I lost my balance and started to fall. His arm went like a snake around me, holding me.

Watch where you're going, he spat.

Sorry, sir, I said, walking around him. The omega showed me to my bed at the end of the row of houses. A small room with fur piled on the floor. Perfect.

I sat on them and cried until I fell asleep.

Hunter’s POV

They found a girl at the border, and the alpha sent me to the office. As the beta of the Ravenclaw Pack, I am second only to him, and he trusts my judgment in almost everything. He always wants my honest opinion about newcomers and anything that might affect the pack. My opinion matters to him greatly.

The second I entered, something hit me hard in the chest, a jolt running through my veins. My wolf howled loudly in my head. MATE. My body went cold and hot all at once, every sense sharpening painfully. My heart slammed against my ribs, breath catching in my throat. I heard blood rushing in my ears and felt a strange ache deep in my bones, like longing and hunger mixed. It was as if the world narrowed until all I could see, all I could feel, was her. My wolf pushed at the edge of my skin, desperate to get closer.

What the f**k, Hex? No, no, mate. I don’t believe in the f*****g mating…her face turned, and I swallowed my words. She looked like a fragile angel, with her big blue eyes, her shoulder-length dark hair, and the scent.

The scent made Hex slam against me hard. Calm the f**k down; we don’t know this…

She’s so beautiful, Hex said, already drunk on her scent.

Madison turned and bumped into me hard, lost her balance, and my arm grabbed her fast before she fell backward.

Watch where you're going.

Sorry sir.

Hex started to laugh. Sir, she thinks you’re ancient.

That is actually not funny, Hex. Luna stared at me.

Hunter, is there something I should know?

Like what? Oh, she seemed very honest, actually. But I will keep an eye on her.

They brand her, she said. I stopped at the door, and a low growl came out. Hex was now angry.

I will give her antibiotic ointment and clean bandages, then I will leave the office. Walked to the clinic, took the items, and walked to her shack. I knocked; she didn’t answer, and I opened the door.

My heart was beating for the first time, for someone. Madison was curled up on the furs and fell asleep. I touched her hair, then took a fur and covered her with it. She sighed.

Kiss her, Hex demanded.

Are f*****g out of your mind? No, as it is, we look like pervs, watching her sleep. But I stood there, unable to leave, and I felt responsible for her. Did she feel the bond?

Hex, do you feel her wolf?

Her wolf is sick and weak; her name is Rune.

Why would her wolf be sick?

She won’t tell me, and she can barely talk. Hex was sad. After a while, I decided it was time to leave. I told the patrolling guard to wake me if anything changed. Went to my small house at the edge of the forest and dropped on the bed. Behind the closed lids, Madison’s beautiful face appeared.