He Kneaded Everything

Merrick didn't walk away from his life as an Alpha; he was cast out. While the rest of the Barefoot Pack slept, he spent his restless nights in the kitchens, trading his authority for the scent of rosemary and the art of the perfect focaccia. To his pack, a leader who wanted to bake was a betrayal. To Merrick, it was the only thing that made him feel real. Now, he's in a new town, on a trial run at the local bakery and learning the ropes from Johanna.
He's the grumpy newcomer, a man of few words just trying to keep his ovens hot and his head down, hoping his old life stays in the rearview mirror. Then he meets Janey. A florist with a sunshine smile, Janey carries the weight of being a "reject" because her wolf, Nala, has always been silent. The moment they lock eyes, the fated bond snaps into place, but they are caught in a painful limbo. Janey cannot truly mate until she finally turns with the full moon, leaving them both waiting on the cycle of the stars to solidify what their hearts already know.
But a fresh start is a fragile thing. When Merrick's past comes knocking, it puts his trial at the bakery and his new passion at risk. As the town watches the brooding man behind the counter, Merrick has to figure out how to protect his mate and his new life without letting the shadows of who he used to be darken the doorway of the place he finally calls home.