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over her. Kim stared up at him in surprise, her cheeks flaming as she offered him a shy smile in thanks. She took her hands away from Bev’s injuries long enough to surround herself with the lovely, warm cloak, thrusting her hands through holes in the front. Jax wrapped his arms around her long enough to fasten the cloak securely between her breasts, then withdrew to point to Chelsea, motioning that he wished to see to her while Kim attended Bev.
    Bev sat patiently as they tended to her and Chelsea. She ached and the cuts and abrasions stung, but she didn’t think anything was broken. She might have a sprained shoulder or something, but compared to some of the other women, she was in great shape. The women that hadn’t yet allowed themselves to be treated were watching, eyes narrowed on the medic. Bev supposed that being a good example was the best thing she could do at the moment and remained still until Kim sat back on her heels, nodding with satisfaction.
    “I think you’re good to go,” Kim said, turning immediately to the group. “Who’s next? Come on, some of you are still bleeding. Can’t you see these guys don’t plan on hurting us?”
    “We don’t know what their plans are!” Amy snapped, thrusting out an arm to prevent a girl from limping to Kim’s side. “They could just be treating us so they can do something nasty later.”
    Kim scowled at the girl, shaking her head.
    “You’re an idiot,” she sighed. “They haven’t made the first move to hurt any of us.”
    “The big one knocked me out!” Amy growled.
    “Because you were attacking him,” Bev shot back, angry on the male’s behalf. “He was helping us and you attacked him. He reacted as any reasonable man would, defending himself from an unknown threat.”
    “You don’t know that.”
    “Yeah, we do,” Chelsea put in. “You didn’t see how horrified he was when he realized what he’d done. He immediately called someone over to help you, you ingrate. Now chill so these girls can get the help they need.”
    As though Chelsea was the voice of reason the girls needed to hear, several of the women shoved past Amy, either moving toward Kim and Jax or allowing other medics to approach them. The men watched from the edges of the group, waiting until the women made a move to accept their help. But once the first girl nodded and held up an arm that looked like road rash from hell, the others were surrounded by teams of medics and the healing began. Though the girls were obviously still scared, they trusted Kim and Chelsea enough to reach out for help.
    Watching the warriors go to work, Bev remembered how the aliens had gone into immediate action when they came upon the women. Half of the warriors had engaged the attacking animals, putting their big bodies between the girls and the angry teeth and claws of the predators. The other half had encircled the girls, or at least they had tried. She sighed. Upon seeing the large, alien men, some of the women had run screaming into the forest. Idiots. A number of the men had given chase while the rest had immediately opened medical kits and begun working on the women who were lying unconscious or too injured to fight them.
    Bev had initially lost sight of Arianna, but found her being tended by a male with black hair and one of his companions. She wanted to go to her new friend, but felt that someone with a bit of sense should stay with the injured girls. She watched as the male that had protected Ri spoke with another of his men, gesturing toward Bev. Her eyes widened as the warrior headed straight toward Bev, his light blue gaze locking with hers. She met it and slowly stood, ignoring Kim and Jax’s admonishments to stay still. She would face him standing tall and proud. He spoke to her but she shook her head, her brow furrowing, hoping he realized that she didn’t understand him. With a frustrated sigh he held up a syringe then indicated that he needed to inject her. Swallowing trepidation, she