Banished by Alpha, Now Rogue King Treasure

Ruthless and Deadly

Madison’s POV

My wolf, Rune, whined. I wasn't angry with her. That's the way we were from birth. We're weak like that. Our mother died when I was still too young to walk, which left us all on our own and struggling to get by. Rune had always had a softer voice than the others, and her paws moved hesitantly. The healers said our connection was feeble. The elders thought something was wrong with us and said we had been affected by illness or bad fortune. I didn't feel weak. It was simply how they viewed me and how they labeled me. Now that I'm walking among the rogues, it doesn't seem real that my life has changed so drastically.

I looked up when they stopped.

The wooden gates were decorated with skulls and then opened. The Ravenclaw Pack.

Rogues.

Ruthless and deadly.

As we walked along the muddy road, the pack members kept looking at me. My heartbeat was so fast I had to put my hand to my chest, and I kept my head up, ready for whatever came 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.

"Vance," she said, handing him a blanket. His lips kissed her head gently.

"Adele, we found this girl on the border," said the broad-shouldered man. I guessed he must be the pack's alpha or beta. 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. My name is Adele. I’m Beta’s wife." She gestured, and a woman 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 stood behind me, but I didn’t hear anyone come 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 carved from stone—hard, unyielding, shadowed. He smelled faintly of crushed pine needles and dew. 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. "This is Hunter, the Alpha of our pack. You can be at ease; no one in this pack will hurt you. 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, Adele. You won’t regret it."

I turned and bumped into Alpha Hunter. He was like a wall. I lost my balance and started to fall. His arm wrapped around me like a snake, holding me.

"Watch where you're going," he spat.

"Sorry, sir," I said, walking around him.

The woman who brought the food gestured for me to follow her. We walked the muddy road again. At the end of the row of houses. A small room with fur piled on the floor. Perfect.

I sat on them and cried. The sobs came in waves, and I couldn’t stop them. Jason's betrayal hurt, but my father taking Ava's side hurt even more. Since my mother's death, he saw me as a mistake.

He told me once, when he was half drunk, that I should’ve died, not his son. The war broke out, he said, and your mother was a fierce warrior who fought alongside him. That day he told her to stay locked in the dungeon, as she was pregnant with twins. She didn’t listen and went out to fight and got injured badly. The doctor saved me; my brother didn’t make it. Then more bad news: since I was born premature, my wolf will be weak.

"You should’ve died…then now you’re a stain."

His words hurt me.

But I tried all these years growing up to prove myself, and fixing things came naturally.

First, I fixed small things, then I started to mess with engines behind the workshop. I took them apart and put them back together. Santo took me in and taught me the rest. I learned fast, and wanted my father's approval for once. Never even offered me a glance when I fixed my first car.

"Kid, he’ll come around. He is a busy alpha after all," Santo said.

My sister stood there, disgusted. "Madison, look at your hands — grease. No one will ever want you."

Yeah, my father favors her. Two years older than me, Ava was every man’s dream. A strong wolf, beautiful blond hair, and brown eyes. She knew how to play the innocent girl; of course, she was far from that. I saw her many times, with other wolves.

Looking back on all this, I wanted revenge, but then I thought better of it. They’re not worth my time. This pack opens their door to me, and I start over. Yes, I’m bitter, and anger still burns in my body, but this pack gave me another chance, and I will try to make the best of it.

A knock on my door startled me.

"Come in," I said softly, wiping my tears.

Alpha Hunter walked inside, and his large frame made the room feel small. He stared into my eyes, and heat rushed to my face. I dropped my head immediately, scared I overstepped.

His fingers lifted my chin. He took a step closer, and my heart was beating so fast. His scent was overwhelming.

"Madison, let me see the wound," he said as he sat on the furs, gesturing for me to sit down. Then I realized he had a box with medicine in his hand.

I lifted my sleeve, and I winced. Tears stung my eyes, and I tried to hold them back.

"Take it off." His words were firm.

I took off the hoodie, and he looked at the wound. A low growl escaped his throat, then he covered it with a cough.

I got scared. My hands started to tremble. "I… I can do this…"

"Stay still. Let me finish bandaging it," his face so close to mine. After he finished, he stood up. "Madison, get some rest. You’re safe here; no one will ever hurt you again."

I looked up at him. The man in front of me was terrifying, yet handsome, his long hair wild down his massive shoulders. His face showed no emotions whatsoever.

"Thank you, Alpha… for everything…"

He nodded, then turned and left. I stared at the door for a few moments, then the tears came back, and I lay down crying until sleep finally took me.