Duke University Libraries Novels & Stories

The evening air was biting cold, sending shivers down Cole's spine. She was sure she'd turn into an icicle when, without warning, Vincent gently scooped her up. A soft gasp escaped her lips as he settled them both across the length of the bed, pulling her close as he draped an extra blanket over their entwined forms. A warm blush bloomed across Cole's cheeks as she became acutely aware of their intimate position. But Vincent, with his steady composure, seemed entirely unbothered, simply relaxing into the bed’s softness. "Get some sleep," he murmured, his voice a soothing rumble that resonated in her chest. Sensing her gaze, he added, "The power will be back on once the damage is repaired. So… just stay close to me until then." Cole took a deep breath, willing her racing heart to calm. Slowly, she let herself melt into his embrace, resting her head on his broad chest. The faint scent of spring blossoms and cypress swirled around her, a fragrance that felt both comforting and familiar. She nestled closer, the warmth of his body chasing away the chill as sleep began to tug at her eyelids. With each steady beat of his heart, Cole felt a sense of peace she hadn't known she needed. She smiled softly, the rhythm of his heartbeat the most beautiful melody, lulling her into the comfort of dreams. As survivors of a collapsed society, a group of doctors are the world's last hope for a cure. In order to protect each other and the future, they've worked in secret. Preserving resources which become scarcer year after year. Among these survivors, a pair of doctors endure challenges as a deadly contagion spreads. Against better judgment, an unexpected bond develops between them and their patient.

Get ready to howl at the moon and be swept away by a mesmerizing tale that will capture your heart! Tyler Conan knows he's different from everyone else, but he never thought he was destined to play a crucial role in the future of the werewolf race. When he meets Ada Miller, another Green Eye werewolf, Tyler realizes that their fates are entwined and they must work together to save their kind. But their fight against the evil Xirays isn't the only thing that's heating up - Tyler and Ada can't deny the sparks flying between them, even though Ada already has a boyfriend who means the world to her. As if things weren't complicated enough, Ethan, the charming owner of a bookstore, gets caught up in the supernatural chaos when he discovers his rare ability to see through the Xirays' deceitful facade. Suddenly, Ethan is exposed to a world he never knew existed, and he can't help but feel drawn to Johnny, a man who's still struggling to come to terms with his own sexuality. With danger lurking around every corner and forbidden love blossoming in unexpected places, this tale is one you won't want to put down. Will Tyler and Ada be able to save their race and find happiness together? Will Ethan and Johnny have the courage to embrace their love? Find out in this gripping, unforgettable adventure!

Nalia Mensah came to London with one goal: finish university and build a better life for her younger sister. Love was never part of the plan. But everything changes the night she meets Adrian Volkov. Adrian is powerful, mysterious, and dangerously captivating. To the university, he is a wealthy benefactor funding new programs. To the criminal world, he is the ruthless heir to a powerful empire. When their paths cross on campus, the attraction between them is immediate and impossible to ignore. What begins as stolen conversations in quiet libraries and late-night walks through London quickly grows into a passionate connection neither of them expected. Adrian is drawn to Nalia’s intelligence and quiet strength, while Nalia finds herself falling for the one man everyone warns her to avoid. But Adrian is hiding a truth that could destroy everything between them. Years ago, Nalia’s father was tied to Adrian’s criminal family, leaving behind secrets that powerful enemies still want to uncover. As danger closes in, Nalia becomes a target in a war she never knew existed. Betrayal from friends, threats from rival crime bosses, and a hidden past force her to question everything she believed about love and loyalty. Now Adrian must decide what matters more: the empire he was born to rule or the woman who has become his greatest weakness.

Eli lives by structure, routine, and emotional restraint. As a university student, he finds comfort in libraries, late-night study sessions, and the certainty of logic. Feelings, especially complicated ones, are easier to ignore. That is, until Noah quietly becomes part of his world. What begins as shared academic spaces and casual conversations slowly turns into something heavier. Lingering glances, accidental touches, and silences charged with meaning begin to unravel Eli’s sense of control. He doesn’t understand the pull toward Noah or why his body reacts before his mind can catch up. Confused and afraid, Eli retreats, creating distance through denial and miscommunication, even as his feelings deepen. Noah remains patient and steady, offering closeness without pressure. As the tension between them builds, Eli is forced to confront the truth he has spent so long avoiding. Set against the quiet intensity of academia, this slow-burn romance explores longing, identity, and the fear of wanting something that feels both forbidden and inevitable.

He didn't just want a seat at the table. He wanted the heart of the home. The Sinclair-Wellesley name meant old money, high art, and a fragile, curated peace. Milo, the youngest and most "cherished" of the clan, was the crown jewel of that peace—a soft-spoken academic with porcelain skin and a soul made of books. He was a boy meant for quiet libraries, not the jagged edges of the corporate world. Then came Jackson Vance. A titan built of steel, gasoline, and unbridled ambition, Jax didn't ask for permission—he took.

"You're the Billionaire's Obsession. The Billionaire Mafia Boss." "Wife of the Infamous Mafia Boss." "Dance with me in the middle of a war." "Once you touched me, You are mine. Mine alone," he said in possessiveness. "Dare to love me and you'll be in danger," a threat. "Always there to protect my baby," the Mafia Boss sexily said. Crizette Muller, a college top Journalism Student of a great State University Major in Feature Writing, with a low and mysterious profile. She's a god friend and a person to everybody and she'll be there running to her friends when they need help. And because of an interview, the low and mysterious profile of the young lady will change after accidentally bumping the Snob, Man of few words, Perfectionist, Perfect decision maker and The Hottest Downright Gorgeous Adonis. The most Eligible Bachelor Billionaire with a hidden dangerous Identity and Treacherous personality, Mr. Ezekiel Duke Wolkzbin. Crizette will be the Obsession of the Treacherous Dangerous Gentleman, Ezekiel.

She shattered his heart. Now he holds the power to destroy her world. Selene Arguelles is everywhere—on billboards, magazine covers, and TV screens. To the world, she’s a star. But to Duke Sandoval, she’s the woman who betrayed him most unforgivably. But Duke is no longer the man she left behind. He is Duke Sandoval—the billionaire heir, cold, powerful, untouchable. No longer the poor, lovesick boy from Tondo. He’s stronger. Harder. Unbreakable. Now their paths are set to cross again. And this time, Duke will make sure Selene feels every ounce of the pain she once made him endure. Every lie. Every betrayal. Every wound she left on his soul—he’ll return it tenfold. Because he didn’t just walk away. He is the one who will leave her this time. And she’ll regret ever thinking she could break him. He is Duke Alessandro Sandoval, The Billionaire Heir.

Warning: Mature Content Trigger Warning: Trauma, Abuse (Not by the male lead), Psychological Alessandra Maximillan, the Young Duchess of one of the four duchies and a major political figure as well as a role model for both men and women, has nearly everything she desires in life. She is only eighteen years old, but she rose to prominence as the heir to Duke Albert Maximillan of the Maximillan duchy due to her charisma and ability. But she has a little secret and a simple wish. Alexander Terrence is the Duke of the Terrence duchy. He is known as the Mad Duke because it is said that he murdered his own parents in order to become Duke. Then, what will happen when Duke Alexander proposes a contract marriage to Alessandra? The cover is not mine. I found it on Google.

She walks among humans at Oxford, but she is no mortal. Cursed with immortality and the hunger of a wolf, she has lived centuries alone, packless, hunted by desire and haunted by a past she cannot escape. Even in the lecture halls and quiet libraries, her presence draws eyes she cannot ignore. But the Moon has other plans. A bond, long forbidden, stirs beneath her skin, one that could awaken a power the world has never seen and challenge every rule of dominance, loyalty, and love. In a world where legends are real, desire can be deadly, and the first wolf returns to claim what is hers, can she survive the curse... and herself?

Living as the rejected Luna, how long would Aisha handle the pain caused by Duke—an Alpha whom she loved the most? Will it take long for her to stay? Or will she choose to escape from the pain he constantly inflicts? Can she live a life without her other half? These questions keep lingering inside her mind while trying to find answers; however, she chooses to set aside all her inhibitions and pain and focus on becoming his Luna, even if it means unrequited. Countless rejection Long nights of crying and bawling Endless times of feeling unloved. Aisha Elara Kensley came from a wealthy tribe of one of the pioneering tribes in the north, Caroline, the wife of Duke Collin. A brave woman that would do everything for her husband to love her; the man who despises her so much; chose and promised to stay by his side, for she believed this man would eventually change for the better. Duke Collin; the only son and heir of the Collin tribe, an Alpha without Luna, who believed was alongside with Kensley tribe for the longest time, destined to marry the only daughter of the Kensley tribe; both tribes we’re almost like families, and sealed the merging of both family through the wedding of both parties. Duke hated the two facts; him marrying and uniting with the woman he never loved, taking away the freedom he had worked out for years. Duke will do everything he can to make Aisha’s life—the chosen Luna become a living hell. Can love sprout between them? Will Aisha’s effort and constant reassurance will make Duke move? However, Aisha, growing tired of chasing Duke, brings her to the pit she was avoiding; for the moment she stopped running, Duke; the beast—had marked her.