Laravel belongsToMany exclude pivot table

Add pivot to your $hidden property’s array in your model(s).

class Badge extends Eloquent {

    protected $hidden = ['pivot'];

    public function users() {
        return $this->belongsToMany('User', 'users_badges');
    }
}

And same with your User model

class User extends Eloquent {

    protected $hidden = ['pivot'];

    public function badges() {
        return $this->belongsToMany('Badge', 'users_badges');
    }

}