#Chapter 224: The Cooking Showcase

Alaric’s POV With Colin watching the kids, Ryan, Aidan, and I went to spectate the cooking event. The event itself was being held in a large gymnasium, with special mats set up to protect the typical gym floor. Atop the mats, each contender was given their own section, with their own counters, appliances, and even an oven and stovetop. Compared to the opening ceremony, the amount of contenders here was just over half. Whether those girls avoided this competition because they couldn’t cook or because they simply didn’t want to was in question. Around the gymnasium, the bleachers had been extended, allowing spectators to sit and observe the preceding. Cara had gotten there an hour before us, so I wasn’t surprised to find her already set up at her own station. We move to the spot of the bleachers closest to her. There, we found a familiar face already seated. “Noel,” I said. The twins shook hands with Noel, but things felt awkward between he and I so we just nodded at each oth