The series revolves around social outcast Scott McCall, a high school student living in the town of Beacon Hills. Scott's life drastically changes when he is bitten by a werewolf the night before sophomore year, becoming one himself. He must henceforth learn to balance his problematic new identity with his day-to-day teenage life. The following characters are instrumental to his struggle: Stiles Stilinski, his human best friend; Allison Argent, his first love interest who comes from a family of werewolf hunters; Lydia Martin, a banshee and Allison's best friend; and Derek Hale, a mysterious werewolf with a dark past. Along the way, he encounters characters who shape him into a stronger werewolf and better person: Jackson, an adopted high school jock who has insecurities; Malia Tate, a werecoyote; and Kira Yukimura, a Japanese fox spirit, as well as various other teenage werewolves created in Beacon Hills.